Synthesis and Characterization of Iron-Doped TiO₂ Nanoparticles Using Ferrocene from Flame Spray Pyrolysis

• Main Authors: Mohamed Anwar Ismail, Mohamed N. Hedhili, Dalaver H. Anjum, Venkatesh Singaravelu, Suk Ho Chung
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-03-01
• Series: Catalysts
• Subjects: flame synthesis; flame spray pyrolysis; titanium dioxide; iron-doping; dye degradation
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/11/4/438

Iron-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles, with Fe/Ti atomic ratios from 0% to 10%, were synthesized by flame spray pyrolysis (FSP), employing a single-step method. Ferrocene, being nontoxic and readily soluble in liquid hydrocarbons, was used as the iron source, while titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) was used as the precursor for TiO₂. The general particle characterization and phase description were examined using ICP-OES, XRD, BET, and Raman spectroscopy, whereas the XPS technique was used to study the surface chemistry of the synthesized particles. For particle morphology, HRTEM with EELS and EDS analyses were used. Optical and magnetic properties were examined using UV–vis and SQUID, respectively. Iron doping to TiO₂ nanoparticles promoted rutile phase formation, which was minor in the pure TiO₂ particles. Iron-doped nanoparticles exhibited a uniform iron distribution within the particles. XPS and UV–vis results revealed that Fe²⁺ was dominant for lower iron content and Fe³⁺ was common for higher iron content and the iron-containing particles had a contracted band gap of ~1 eV lower than pure TiO₂ particles with higher visible light absorption. SQUID results showed that doping TiO₂ with Fe changed the material to be paramagnetic. The generated nanoparticles showed a catalytic effect for dye-degradation under visible light.