Synthesis and characterization of Fe-doped TiO2 films by electrophoretic method and its photocatalytic activity toward methyl orange

In this study the cathodic electrophoretic deposition method has been developed and used to prepare Fe-doped TiO2 films to enhance the photocatalytic activity. X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that the photocatalysts were predominantly in well-crystallized anatase phase, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the photocatalysts were in nanometer size with the diameter about 20 nm. We discussed the effects of electrophoretic voltage and the optimum content of Fe on the activity of photocatalyst. Compared to the calcined Fe-doped TiO2 film, the non-calcined Fe-doped TiO2 film showed higher photocatalytic decolorization toward methyl orange (MO). The photocatalytic degradation of MO could be described as pseudo-first order reactions.

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► Fe-doped TiO2 film was prepared by electrophoretic deposition method.
► Non-calcined Fe-doped TiO2 films exhibited an enhanced photocatalyst activity.
► Calcination process exerted a disaster effect on the photocatalytic activity of the non-calcined films.