Scientific Reports (Sep 2021)

Quasi-homogenous photocatalysis of quantum-sized Fe-doped TiO2 in optically transparent aqueous dispersions

  • Marcus Einert,
  • Pascal Hartmann,
  • Bernd Smarsly,
  • Torsten Brezesinski

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-96911-6
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

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Abstract In this study, the preparation of anatase TiO2 nanocrystals via a facile non-aqueous sol–gel route and their characterization are reported. The 3–4 nm particles are readily dispersable in aqueous media and show excellent photoreactivity in terms of rhodamine B degradation. The catalytic performance can be further increased considerably by doping with iron and UV-light irradiation as a pre-treatment. The effect of surface ligands (blocked adsorption sites, surface defects etc.) on the photoreactivity was thoroughly probed using thermogravimetric analysis combined with mass spectrometry. Photoelectrochemical characterization of thin-film electrodes made from the same TiO2 nanocrystals showed the opposite trend to the catalytic experiments, that is, a strong decrease in photocurrent and quantum efficiency upon doping due to introduction of shallow defect states.