Energy band structure and photocatalytic property of fe-doped Zn2TiO4 material

Abstract

Zn2Ti1-xFexO4 (0 ≤x ≤0.7) photocatalysts were synthesized by polymerized complex (PC) method and investigated for its physico-chemical as well as optical properties. Zn2Ti1-xFexO4 can absorb not only UV light but also visible light region due to doping of Fe in the Ti site of Zn2TiO4 lattice because of the band transition from Fe 3d to the Fe 3d + Ti3d hybrid orbital. The photocatalytic activity of Fe doped Zn2TiO4 samples for hydrogen production under UV light irradiation decreased with an increase in Fe concentration in Zn2TiO4. Consequently, there exists an optimized concentration of iron for improved photocatalytic activity under visible light (λ≥ 420 nm).