The effect of Fe3+-doped on structure and optical properties of mesoporous Al2O3/SiO2 composite

The composition of 98.0(Al1.9Fe0.1O3)/2.0SiO2 was synthesized by modifying auto-combustion method and the effect of calcination temperature on structure and optical properties were studied. The prepared powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry, Ultraviolet-visible (UV–vis) spectra and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The particle size distribution and the specific surface area of nanoparticles were studied using Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and BET analysis technique. Adopting Kramers–Kronig relation, FTIR and UV–vis spectra, the optical constants of nano-alumina, including optical band gap (Eg), refractive index (n), extinction coefficients (k), real (ε1) and imaginary parts (ε2) of dielectric function were obtained. The results of optical band gap values indicate quantum confinement effect. The energy loss functions were determined to show loss of energy that transmit through a solid.