A novel preparation of highly active iron-doped titania photocatalysts with a p–n junction semiconductor structure

Iron (III)-doped TiO2 powder photocatalysts were prepared by modified uneven doping method using ammonium oleate in order to promote the formation of p–n junction composite structure, and were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), TEM, BET, UV–vis and PL spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activities of TiO2-based nanoparticles were evaluated by the photocatalytic rate of methyl orange oxidation. These iron (III)-doped TiO2 photocatalysts are the composite powders having the p–n junction of n-type undoped TiO2 with p-type TiO2 doped by Fe evenly, were shown to have a much higher photocatalytic destruction rate than that of undoped TiO2. The n–n junctions may be responsible for the high photocatalytic activity of P25 and other mix-phase crystalline titania.

Research highlights▶ Iron (III)-doped TiO2 photocatalysts are the composite powders having the p–n junction of n-type undoped TiO2 with p-type TiO2 doped by Fe evenly, were shown to have a much higher photocatlytic destruction rate than that of undoped TiO2. ▶ The n–n junctions may be responsible for the high photocatalytic activity of P25 and other mix-phase crystalline titania.