Fe doped TiO2 powder synthesized by sol gel method: structural and photocatalytic characterization

Fe doped TiO 2 samples were synthesized using sol–gel technique and its incorporation was studied using different experimental tools such as XRD, HRTEM, and XPS. It was observed that the TiO 2 maintains the anatase phase when the Fe doping concentration is below 3 % or below. A structural transformation from anatase to rutile was observed when the doping concentration reaches 4 %. Fe doping inhibits the crystalline growth and the crystal size of 3 % Fe doped TiO 2 was half of the undoped TiO 2 . The Fe segregation in TiO 2 was identified by studying HAADF images. The Fe doping caused an apparent red shift in the absorption edge of TiO 2 . Photocatalytic experiments show that Fe 3+ doping has considerably improved the decomposition of the organic component. With 0.5 % Fe doped TiO 2 in 120 min, 88 % of the dye was degraded compared to 44 % degradation achieved by pure TiO 2 . The slight decrease in the photocatalytic activity for the 4 % Fe: TiO 2 can be attributed to the change in structural phase.