Effect of Fe addition on phase transformation of titanium dioxide nanocrystals prepared by Pechini-type sol–gel method

Abstract

In the current work, titanium dioxide and iron-doped titanium dioxide (0-3-) nanocrystals were prepared with the Pechini-type sol-gel method. The same procedure as well as spin-coating technique was applied for preparation of thin films. The prepared samples were characterised by X-ray diffractometery (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques. The crystallographic and microstructural parameters of nanopowders were refined from XRD patterns utilising the Rietveld refinement method. It was found that with incorporation of iron in TiO 2 structure, a highly distorted brookite phase was generated and the amount of anatase phase was decreased. The rutile phase disappeared with addition of iron; however, in higher concentration of iron (3%), it reappeared. The results also indicate that the crystallite size of brookite phase as well as microstrain of anatase and brookite phases were amplified with iron doping. The results of the photocatalytic test of prepared thin films are in agreement with the prediction of photocatalytic activity of samples based on their phase%s constituents and structure.