Electrochemical fabrication and properties of highly ordered Fe-doped TiO2 nanotubes

Highly-ordered Fe-doped TiO(2) nanotubes (TiO(2)nts) were fabricated by anodization of co-sputtered Ti-Fe thin films in a glycerol electrolyte containing NH(4)F. The as-sputtered Ti-Fe thin films correspond to a solid solution of Ti and Fe according to X-ray diffraction. The Fe-doped TiO(2)nts were studied in terms of composition, morphology and structure. The characterization included scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV/Vis spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Mott-Schottky analysis. As a result of the Fe doping, an indirect bandgap of 3.0 eV was estimated using Tauc's plot, and this substantial red-shift extends its photoresponse to visible light. From the Mott-Schottky analysis, the flat-band potential (E(fb)) and the charge carrier concentration (N(D)) were determined to be -0.95 V vs Ag/AgCl and 5.0×10(19) cm(-3) respectively for the Fe-doped TiO(2)nts, whilst for the undoped TiO(2)nts, E(fb) of -0.85 V vs Ag/AgCl and N(D) of 6.5×10(19) cm(-3) were obtained.