Preparation and photocatalytic activity of nanoparticle Fe/TiO2 by chemical precipitation method

The pure and Fe-doped TiO2 nanoparticles photocatalyst were prepared by chemical precipitation, using titanium tetrachloride as Ti-precursor, ammonia as precipitant and ferric chloride as doping-ion donor. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetry and different thermal analysis (TG-DTA). The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by the photocatalytic decomposition of phenol. The effects of the doping content of Fe3+ and phenol solution pH on the activity were investigated. The results showed that Fe3+ doping retards the growth of grain size. Fe3+ locate at interstices or occupy some lattice of TiO2, which lead to crystal lattice distortion. An appropriate amount of Fe3+ in TiO2 powders reduces the recombination of photo-generated holes and electrons, which contribute to the enhancement of the photocatalytic activity of Fe3+-doped TiO2. In this experimental condition, TiO2 nanoparticles have the optimal photocatalytic property when the doping content of Fe3+ is 0.1 mol% and pH of phenol solution is 9; the degradation efficiency of phenol is 89.3% after 16 h irriation using 20 W UV light.