Synthesis of nanostructured iron titanates by soft chemistry methods

Abstract

The efficiency of various methods for the preparation of titania-based nanocomposites, Fe₂Ti₂O₇ and Fe₂TiO₅, starting from colloid solutions of hydroxy iron species and the products of titanium tetraisopropoxide hydrolysis was evaluated. The effect of the conditions of synthesis (Fe³⁺/Ti⁴⁺ concentration ratios of 1 and 2, pH of the reaction medium, temperature, and sonication) on the composition, structure, and properties of the nanocomposites formed was elucidated; the effect of the phase composition on the photocatalytic activity of materials formed during the liquid-phase synthesis was established. The resulting materials were studied by electron microscopy, low-temperature adsorption, IR spectroscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction.