Preparation and characterization of Fe-incorporated TiO$_2$ thin films: A study of optical constants and dispersion energy parameters

TL;DR

This study explores how Fe doping affects the microstructure and optical properties of TiO₂ thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis, revealing phase transitions and changes in optical constants with increasing Fe content.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the effects of Fe incorporation on TiO₂ thin films' phase and optical properties using a cost-effective spray pyrolysis method.

Findings

Fe induces a phase transition from anatase to rutile at higher concentrations.

Fe doping causes a red shift in UV absorption and reduces the bandgap energy.

Optical constants are significantly affected by Fe content.

Abstract

In this study, we have delineated the preparation and influence of Fe doping on microstructural and optical properties of the pristine and Fe incorporated TiO$_2$ thin film with different Fe concentrations (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 at.% ). The samples are prepared by easier and cost-saving way of spray pyrolysis technique (SPT) using Ti(OCH$_2$CH$_2$CH$_2$CH$_3$)$_4$ as a precursor of mother material. The effect of Fe in the microstructure and phase formation of TiO$_2$ thin films is investigated by XRD analysis. XRD investigation depicts that the pristine product corresponds to anatase phase of TiO$_2$ and remains uncontaminated with addition of 2 at.% Fe impurity. It is also observed that Fe introduces a phase transition from anatase to rutile after adulterating more Fe contents (4, 6 and 8 at.%). In order to study optical characteristics, UVvis spectroscopy has been employed which revels that UV absorption for the Fe incorporated TiO$_2$ products are noticed to move to a longer wavelength (red shift) and Fe contents lessen bandgap energy from 3.81eV (0 at.% Fe) to 3.70 eV (8 at.% Fe) of the TiO$_2$ thin films. The impact of Fe on the optical constants such as refractive index, complex dielectric constants, $\tan\delta$, VELF and SELF, dispersion parameters of obtained titanium dioxide samples has been studied. The results display that Fe influences the structural and optical characteristics significantly.