Novel fabrication of net-like and flake-like Fe doped TiO2 thin films

New morphologies of net-like and flake-like TiO2 thin films with different concentrations of Fe dopant were successfully fabricated by micro-arc oxidation (MAO) process of Ti plates and a subsequent chemical treatment of the as-prepared MAO-TiO2 thin films. It was found that Fe ions can be easily introduced into the MAO-TiO2 samples with the increase concentration of K4(FeCN)6·3H2O precursor, and the amount of Fe determined the morphologies of TiO2 thin films after chemical treatment; net-like morphology was observed with low Fe dopant, while it transformed to a flake-like one when Fe exceeds 1.7 at.%. UV-vis spectroscopy test showed that the absorption edge of the Fe ions doped TiO2 thin films with new morphologies has an obvious red shift.

► Novel fabrication of net-like and flake-like pure TiO2 and Fe-TiO2 thin films. ► Fe ions concentration determines the surface morphology after chemical treatment. ► Net-like morphology with low Fe dopant, while a flake-like one when Fe exceeds 1.7 at.%. ► Significant visible light response after Fe doping.