TY - JOUR
T1 - Fe-doped nanostructured titanates synthesized in a single step route
AU - Costa, A. M L M
AU - Marinkovic, B. A.
AU - Suguihiro, N. M.
AU - Smith, David
AU - Da Costa, M. E H M
AU - Paciornik, S.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PY - 2015/1
Y1 - 2015/1
N2 - In this research nanostructured titanates, containing iron in the structure, were obtained through a single-step alkaline hydrothermal route aiming at reduction of band-gap energy. In the process, a Fe-Ti rich Brazilian mineral sand was mixed with 10 M of NaOH and then submitted to isothermal treatments at temperatures ranging from 110 to 190 °C in an autoclave. The as-obtained products were water-washed and then characterized by transmission electron and scanning transmission electron microscopies, X-ray photoelectron, Mössbauer and diffuse reflectance spectroscopies. Transmission electron microscopy analyses showed a morphological dependence of the product as a function of the temperature, i.e., titanate nanosheets were predominantly formed at lower temperatures (110°C-150°C), while nanoribbons, with some nanosheets and nanoparticles, were the main products at higher temperatures (> 150°C). Using energy dispersive X-ray it was determined that iron was incorporated into nanosheets. On the other hand, the as-obtained nanoribbons were Fe-free, while iron was principally associated with nanoparticles attached to the nanoribbons. By means of X-ray photoelectron and Mössbauer spectroscopies, it was elucidated that iron adopted Fe3 + form in the as-prepared nanosheets, occupying octahedral sites inside the titanate lepidocrocite-like structure. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy showed a change of absorption pattern from nanosheets to nanoribbon/nanoparticle assembly: nanosheets exhibited high absorption from ultraviolet up to the visible light range, while the nanoribbon/nanoparticle assembly demonstrated a drop in absorption in the visible light range. These results suggest that Fe3 + incorporation inside the titanate structure is responsible for enhancing the visible light absorption, making these nanosheets potentially suitable for applications in photoinduced processes.
AB - In this research nanostructured titanates, containing iron in the structure, were obtained through a single-step alkaline hydrothermal route aiming at reduction of band-gap energy. In the process, a Fe-Ti rich Brazilian mineral sand was mixed with 10 M of NaOH and then submitted to isothermal treatments at temperatures ranging from 110 to 190 °C in an autoclave. The as-obtained products were water-washed and then characterized by transmission electron and scanning transmission electron microscopies, X-ray photoelectron, Mössbauer and diffuse reflectance spectroscopies. Transmission electron microscopy analyses showed a morphological dependence of the product as a function of the temperature, i.e., titanate nanosheets were predominantly formed at lower temperatures (110°C-150°C), while nanoribbons, with some nanosheets and nanoparticles, were the main products at higher temperatures (> 150°C). Using energy dispersive X-ray it was determined that iron was incorporated into nanosheets. On the other hand, the as-obtained nanoribbons were Fe-free, while iron was principally associated with nanoparticles attached to the nanoribbons. By means of X-ray photoelectron and Mössbauer spectroscopies, it was elucidated that iron adopted Fe3 + form in the as-prepared nanosheets, occupying octahedral sites inside the titanate lepidocrocite-like structure. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy showed a change of absorption pattern from nanosheets to nanoribbon/nanoparticle assembly: nanosheets exhibited high absorption from ultraviolet up to the visible light range, while the nanoribbon/nanoparticle assembly demonstrated a drop in absorption in the visible light range. These results suggest that Fe3 + incorporation inside the titanate structure is responsible for enhancing the visible light absorption, making these nanosheets potentially suitable for applications in photoinduced processes.
KW - Alkaline hydrothermal synthesis
KW - Fe-doped titanate
KW - Mineral sand
KW - Nanomaterials
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U2 - 10.1016/j.matchar.2014.11.029
DO - 10.1016/j.matchar.2014.11.029
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84912525078
SN - 1044-5803
VL - 99
SP - 150
EP - 159
JO - Materials Characterization
JF - Materials Characterization
ER -