Preparation and Photocatalytic Activity Evaluation of Composite Photocatalyst Fe-TiO₂/TiO₂

Abstract

Fe-TiO2 photocatalyst was prepared by Sol-gel method using tetrabutyl titanate [Ti(OC4H9)4] as the titanium precursor. The relative p-n junction composite Fe-TiO2/TiO2 samples were prepared by ball milling method. The structure and properties of the samples were characterized by XRD, DRS, XPS and PL emission spectra. The results show that doping Fe3+ into TiO2 is more beneficial to improve the photocatalytic reduction activity of the sample compared with the photooxidation activity. The optimum doping amount is 0.05% (Fe/Ti molar ratio) for the Fe-TiO2 photocatalyst. After coupled between Fe-TiO2 and TiO2, both the photooxidation and photoreduction activities of the sample are enhanced. It is proposed that as the formation of relative p-n junction between the Fe-TiO2 and TiO2, the photo-excited holes and electrons are separated effectively, and the photocatalytic activity is enhanced.