Synthesis and material characterization of TiO2 nanoparticles doped with iron (Fe)

Abstract

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) doped with iron (Fe) atom are investigated using X-Ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and photocatalysts measurements. Fe-TiO2 nanoparticles with different concentration of iron were formed using the conventional co-precipitation technique from two different chemical solutions. The precursors of TiO2 were prepared using titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4) of 50 ml, and iron trichloride (FeCl3) was used as a dopant source. X-ray diffraction results show that diffraction pattern have two phases structures anatase and rutile phase structures where the intensity of the rutile structures are superior to that the anatase phase intensities. The results from FESEM micrograph indicate that the agglomerations were taken place, forming into clusters. Irradiation of ultraviolet (UV) with varying the time from 30 minutes to 120 minutes to the Fe-doped TiO2 nanoparticles using methylene blue shows that the absorption intensity reduces as time irradiation increased. The results indicate that the TiO2 nanoparticles doped with iron are suitable as photocatalysts.