Preparation and Characterization of Fe-Doped TiO2 Films Covered on Silicagel

Abstract

This study describes sol–gel preparation of (TiO2:Fex)/SiO2 (x = 0–0.8%) on silicagel grains using titanium tetraisopropoxide and iron (III) chloride as titanium precursor and doping agent, respectively. The structural properties, morphology, and chemical composition of the samples were thoroughly studied using x-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, respectively. The results demonstrated the formation of highly pure anatase TiO2:Fex crystals with diameters of several tens of nanometers. With increasing doping level, no significant change in porosity of TiO2 material was observed, whereas the decrease in crystalline size was easily recorded. In addition, the bandgap (observed by UV–Vis) was dramatically shifted from 2.9 eV to 1.7 eV as doping with TiO2 with Fe at doping content as low as 0.8%. The use of silicagel as a solid support to carry photocatalytic crystals enables recycling of the material. These findings represent a simple pathway to design reusable catalyst for highly effective water detoxification under visible illumination.