Sol–gel synthesis of TiO2-Fe2O3 systems: Effects of Fe2O3 content and their photocatalytic properties

• Published in: Journal of industrial and engineering chemistry (Seoul, Korea) Vol. 39; pp. 112 - 120
• Main Authors: Abbas, Nadir, Shao, Godlisten N., Haider, M. Salman, Imran, S.M., Park, Sung Soo, Kim, Hee Taik
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 25.07.2016; 한국공업화학회
• Subjects: Calcination; Heterogeneous photocatalysis; Sol–gel process; Titanium oxychloride (TiOCl2); 화학공학; Titanium oxychloride (TiOCl2); Calcination; Sol–gel process; Heterogeneous photocatalysis
• ISSN: 1226-086X; 1876-794X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jiec.2016.05.015

[Display omitted] An inexpensive sol–gel technique to synthesize TiO2-Fe2O3 nanocomposites with improved structural and photochemical properties is introduced. A series of TiO2-Fe2O3 nanocomposites with different Fe2O3 contents were prepared through cheap TiO2 precursor titanium oxychloride (TiOCl2). The physicochemical properties of the samples were examined by XRD, XRF, SEM, EDX, HRTEM, UV–vis DRS, FTIR, TGA and nitrogen gas physisorption studies. The effects of calcination temperatures and Fe2O3 content on the mesostructure and photocatalytic strength of the prepared TiO2-Fe2O3 composites were investigated. Results showed that composites with distinct structural, optical and photochemical properties can be formed by varying Fe2O3 content.