Solvothermal preparation of Fe-doped TiO2 nanotube arrays for enhancement in visible light induced photoelectrochemical performance

• Fe3+ doped TiO2 nanotube arrays were prepared by a solvothermal method.
• The concentrations of Fe3+ played a vital rule in photoelectrochemical properties.
• The Fe-TiO2 NTs showed excellent visible light response.
• The Fe-TiO2 NTs (1) showed optimal removal efficiencies of MB and Cr(VI).

Highly visible light active Fe-doped TiO2 nanotube arrays (Fe-TiO2 NTs) were prepared by a simple solvothermal method, and the morphology, composition, visible light response and photocatalytic property were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV–vis diffusion reflection spectroscopy (DRS), photocurrent and photoelectrocatalysis (PEC) test. The results indicated that the doping progress of Fe3+ ions didn't destroy the highly-ordered nanotube array structures, and Fe3+ concentrations had significant influences on photoelectrochemical properties of TiO2 NTs. The Fe-TiO2 NTs prepared with the Fe3+ concentration of 1 mmol/L exhibited more excellent photocurrent and PEC activities than those of TiO2 NTs and other Fe-TiO2 NTs under visible or solar light irradiation. The highly visible active Fe-TiO2 NTs may show extensive applications in solar cells and photocatalysts due to the excellent photoelectrochemical performance.

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