Photocatalytic properties of TiO2 and Fe-doped TiO2 prepared by metal organic framework-mediated synthesis

by M. J. Valero-Romero, J. G. Santaclara, L. Oar-Arteta, L. van Koppen, D.Y. Osadchii, J. Gascon, F. Kapteijn
Year: 2019

Bibliography

M. J. Valero-Romero, J. G. Santaclara, L. Oar-Arteta, L. van Koppen, D.Y. Osadchii, J. Gascon, F. Kapteijn. Chem. Eng. J. 360 (2019) 75-88. Photocatalytic properties of TiO2 and Fe-doped TiO2 prepared by metal organic framework-mediated synthesis

Abstract

​The Ti-containing metal organic framework (MOF) MIL-125 has been used as sacrificial precursor to obtain TiO2 materials through the MOF-mediated synthesis route. In this study, Fe3+ was deposited on the surface of MIL-125 after its hydrothermal synthesis. Targeted Fe-doped titania photocatalysts were prepared through the direct calcination in air of Fe/MIL-125 crystals and/or by using a two-step method, including carbonization in inert atmosphere followed by calcination in air. The relationship between the synthesis conditions and the properties of the Fe-doped titania nanopowders, such as Fe content, porosity, phase composition and particle size was investigated. From elemental mapping, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy and photoluminescence emission spectra, the presence of highly dispersed Fe3+ ions incorporated into the TiO2 crystal lattice was confirmed, which led to a significant red shift of photoresponse towards visible light and reduced the recombination rate of electron-hole pairs at low iron content. By varying the pre-carbonization temperature, both crystal size and phase composition in the final materials were modulated. The performance of Fe-doped titania materials in photocatalytic water-splitting was tested for hydrogen evolution. Optimal photocatalytic performance was found at 0.15 and 0.5 wt. % iron concentration and exceeded those of non-doped titania and commercial anatase both under visible and UV light irradiation, respectively, and among the highest reported in literature for these systems. ​

Keywords

Metal Organic Frameworks MOF-mediated synthesis Fe-doped titania H2 production Water splitting