Effect of Iron-Doping on the Structure and Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 Nanoparticles

This research reports a simple, innovative, and low-cost doping method of TiO2 nanoparticles presenting the effects of calcination and the weight ratio of TiO2:FeCl3 (1:0.33-1:4.5). The photocatalytic activity of the nanomaterials was investigated by decolorizing Rhodamine B (RhB) dye in an aqueous solution. The main results showed that there is anatase-to-rutile transformation after the calcination process. The Fe-doped process modified the TiO2 spectrum and showed a connection in the Ti-O-Fe vibration. The particle size is within the nanometer range, between 20-51 nm, except for calcined TiO2. The inclusion of Fe in TiO2 decreased the band gap energy from 3.16 (reference) up to 2.06 eV (1:3). Additionally, after the calcination, there was a decrease in this value from 3.03 eV (reference) up to 1.95 eV (1:1.6). The TiO2, with a ratio of (1:1.6), showed the highest activity in the photocatalytic degradation of RhB with an efficiency of 93.8% after 3 h of irradiation.

Automated summary

This research presents a low-cost doping method for TiO2 nanoparticles and investigates the effects of calcination and the weight ratio of TiO2:FeCl3 on their photocatalytic activity. The results show that calcination leads to the transformation of the TiO2 phase from anatase to rutile. The inclusion of Fe in TiO2 modifies its spectrum and exhibits a connection in the Ti-O-Fe vibration. The TiO2 with a ratio of (1:1.6) demonstrates the highest activity in the degradation of RhB dye, achieving an efficiency of 93.8% after 3 hours of irradiation.