Fe doped TiO sub(2) powder synthesized by sol gel method: structural and photocatalytic characterization

Fe doped TiO sub(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 sub(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 sub(2) was half of the undoped TiO sub(2). The Fe segregation in TiO sub(2) was identified by studying HAADF images. The Fe doping caused an apparent red shift in the absorption edge of TiO sub(2). Photocatalytic experiments show that Fe super(3+) doping has considerably improved the decomposition of the organic component. With 0.5 % Fe doped TiO sub(2) in 120 min, 88 % of the dye was degraded compared to 44 % degradation achieved by pure TiO sub(2). The slight decrease in the photocatalytic activity for the 4 % Fe: TiO sub(2) can be attributed to the change in structural phase.