Synthesis and Characterization of Fe Doped TiO2 Nanoparticles by a Sol-Gel and Hydrothermal Process

Fe doped $TiO_2$ nanoparticles were prepared under high temperature and pressure conditions by mixture of metal nitrate solution and $TiO_2$ sol. Fe doped $TiO_2$ particles were reacted in the temperature range of 170 to $200^{\circ}C$ for 6 h. The microstructure and phase of the synthesized Fe doped $TiO_2$ nanoparticles were studied by SEM (FE-SEM), TEM, and XRD. Thermal properties of the synthesized Fe doped $TiO_2$ nanoparticles were studied by TG-DTA analysis. TEM and X-ray diffraction pattern shows that the synthesized Fe doped $TiO_2$ nanoparticles were crystalline. The average size and distribution of the synthesized Fe doped $TiO_2$ nanoparticles were about 10 nm and narrow, respectively. The average size of the synthesized Fe doped $TiO_2$ nanoparticles increased as the reaction temperature increased. The overall reduction in weight of Fe doped $TiO_2$ nanoparticles was about 16% up to ${\sim}700^{\circ}C$; water of crystallization was dehydrated at $271^{\circ}C$. The transition of Fe doped $TiO_2$ nanoparticle phase from anatase to rutile occurred at almost $561^{\circ}C$. The amount of rutile phase of the synthesized Fe doped $TiO_2$ nanoparticles increased with decreasing Fe concentration. The effects of synthesis parameters, such as the concentration of the starting solution and the reaction temperature, are discussed.