Novel method for doping nano TiO 2 photocatalysts by chemical vapour deposition

Abstract

Highly active photocatalytic Fe-doped nano TiO 2 was successfully synthesised by chemical vapour deposition (CVD) method using FeCl 3 as Fe source. CVD was carried out by evaporating FeCl 3 at 350°C in nitrogen flow during 30-90 min. The amount of Fe incorporated into TiO 2 framework is adjusted by the amount of FeCl 3 used and the evaporation time. The obtained sample was characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), UV-Vis, Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Photocatalytic activities of the samples were tested in photocatalytic decomposition of 2-propanol in liquid phase using visible light instead of UV light irradiation. Non-doped TiO 2 and high Fe loading TiO 2 samples showed very low photocatalytic activity, whereas the low Fe loading TiO 2 sample exhibited high photocatalytic activity under visible light. The high photocatalytic activity of this sample was rationalised by the existence of defects (Ti-OH groups) as the active sites. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.