TiO2-Fe2O3 nanocomposite thin films prepared by magnetron sputtering for photocatalytic applications

Abstract

The preparation and characterization of TiO2-Fe2O3 nanocomposite thin films is reported. Films were deposited by magnetron sputtering using a multiple targets configuration to control the Fe content. The effect of the iron content in the films on the composition, structure and optical properties was investigated. With this experimental configuration, the iron was incorporated in a controlled way up to 23.5 at.%. X-ray diffraction and Raman results suggest that at low iron contents (<3.6 at.%) the obtained material consists of a mixture of the anatase and rutile phases of TiO2 mainly whereas at higher iron concentrations (>17.3 at.%) nanocomposites formed by the rutile and hematite phases are obtained. The prepared films showed enhanced photocatalytic response for the Malachite Green dye degradation under irradiation with visible light compared with TiO2 films being in some cases even better than Degussa P-25 powders.