Enhanced visible light photocatalytic properties of Fe-doped TiO2 nanorod clusters and monodispersed nanoparticles

• Published in: Applied surface science Vol. 257; no. 18; pp. 8121 - 8126
• Main Authors: Liu, Y., Wei, J.H., Xiong, R., Pan, C.X., Shi, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.07.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Clusters; Clusters, nanoparticles, and nanocrystalline materials; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Electron and ion emission by liquids and solids; impact phenomena; Exact sciences and technology; Fe-doped TiO2; Formaldehyde; Iron; Materials science; Microstructure; Monodispersed nanoparticles; Morphology; Nanoparticles; Nanorod clusters; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Nanoscale materials: clusters, nanoparticles, nanotubes, and nanocrystals; Nanostructure; Other topics in nanoscale materials and structures; Photocatalysis; Photocatalysts; Photocatalytic activities; Photoemission and photoelectron spectra; Photoluminescence; Physics; Structure of solids and liquids; crystallography; Titanium dioxide; Visible light; Fe-doped TiO2; Visible light; Photocatalytic activities; Monodispersed nanoparticles; Nanorod clusters; Formaldehyde; Inorganic compounds; Photoluminescence; Fe-doped TiO; Reaction rates; XRD; Nanoparticles; n type semiconductor; Iron additions; Absorption spectra; Nanorod; Photocatalysis; Transition element compounds; Ultraviolet spectra; Doped materials; Desorption; Hydrothermal growth; Transmission electron microscopy; Microstructure; Titanium oxide; Nanostructured materials; X-ray photoelectron spectra
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2011.04.121

► The Fe-TiO2 nanorod clusters and monodispersed nanoparticles were prepared in this paper. ► The microstructures and morphologies can be controlled by restraining the hydrolytic reaction rates. ► The modified morphologies enhance the specific surface areas of the prepared photocatalysts. ► Fe3+-dopant promotes the visible light utility and enhances the quantum efficiency of TiO2. ► The Fe-doped photocatalysts show high photocatalytic activities under visible light. In order to get photocatalysts with desired morphologies and enhanced visible light responses, the Fe-doped TiO2 nanorod clusters and monodispersed nanoparticles were prepared by modified hydrothermal and solvothermal method, respectively. The microstructures and morphologies of TiO2 crystals can be controlled by restraining the hydrolytic reaction rates. The Fe-doped photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV–vis absorption spectroscopy (UV–vis), N2 adsorption–desorption measurement (BET), and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The refinements of the microstructures and morphologies result in the enhancement of the specific surface areas. The Fe3+-dopants in TiO2 lattices not only lead to the significantly extending of the optical responses from UV to visible region but also diminish the recombination rates of the electrons and holes. The photocatalytic activities were evaluated by photocatalytic decomposition of formaldehyde in air under visible light illumination. Compared with P25 (TiO2) and N-doped TiO2 nanoparticles, the Fe-doped photocatalysts show high photocatalytic activities under visible light.