Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of Fe:TiO2 Particles

Abstract

TiO2 and iron-doped TiO2 were synthesized by sol-gel method. TiO2 and 0.5 %mol Fe:TiO2 were calcined at 500 and 800 °C for 3 h. The synthesized particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-VIS diffuse reflectance spectrophotometry (UV/DRS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive X-Ray analysis (SEM-EDX). The XRD patterns of all samples that were calcined at 500 °C showed only anatase phase. On increasing temperature from 500 to 800 °C, the anatase phase transformed to rutile phase. For 0.5 %mol Fe:TiO2, pseudobrookite (Fe2TiO5) phase was observed at 800 °C. The particles that contained rutile showed higher antibacterial activities against E.coli, B. subtilis, and S. aureus than anatase phase, under fluorescent irradiation.