Effect of metal ion dopants on photochemical properties of anatase TiO2 films synthesized by a modified sol-gel method

Anatase TiO2 films were successfully synthesized by a modified sol-gel method wherein peroxo titanic acid solution was derived from TiCl4/ethanol/water solution at room temperature. The as-prepared films were further surface-doped by photodeposited Fe2O3 and Cr2O3 to improve its physicochemical properties. The phase and structure of the films were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The physicochemical properties of the films were also measured. The results show that both hydrophilicity and photocatalytic activity of the films were remarkably improved by doping transition metal ion Fe3+. In case of Cr3+ doped films, hydrophilicity was also significantly enhanced but photocatalytic activity for methyl orange under UV irradiation was still comparable with the undoped films.