A comparative study of the photocatalytic activities of iron-titanium (IV) oxide photocatalysts prepared by various methods; spray pyrolysis, impregnation and co-precipitation

Abstract A series of iron/titanium oxide photocatalysts of varying Fe 3+ content have beenprepared by a number of different methods and subjected to controlled thermal treatment. Specimens have been characterised in terms of their crystalline structure and morphology, and indicate solid solutions containing both the anatase and rutile phases of TiO 2 , together with the formation of pseudo-brookite in some specimens. Intrinsic photo-activity measurements have been performed using a standard liquid-phase photocatalytic reaction. Results indicate that the photocatalytic activity of the specimens differs according to the method of preparation, and that all solids containing iron (III) species …