Iron-doped TiO2 Catalysts with Photocatalytic Activity

The aim of the present study is to synthesize and characterize Fe-doped TiO2 nanoparticles prepared by molten salt method using a precursor of a solid mixture of TiO2 powder and FeCl3. As far as this study is concerned, this is the simplest method that has been reported so far for the synthesis of Fe-doped TiO2 nanoparticles. Pure TiO2 nanoparticles and 0.5, 1 and 3 wt % Fe-doped TiO2 samples were prepared. Characterization of prepared nanoparticles was done by UV-Vis diffusion reflection spectroscopy (DRS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). SEM and XRD analysis of the samples indicated the presence of anatase spherical-shaped TiO2 particles. The results of EDX study confirmed the presence of Fe in all of the samples. According to DRS results, the band gap energy of Fe doped TiO2 nanoparticles decreased with increasing Fe concentration from 3.1 eV for pure TiO2 to 3.0- 2.80 eV for Fe-doped TiO2. The photocatalytic activity was also checked. It was found that, the photocatalytic activity of Fe-doped nanoparticles was higher than pure TiO2. The maximum degradation activity of 69% was obtained at the Fe doping content of 0.5 wt%.