Thermal behavior of Fe2O3/TiO2 mesoporous gels

Titania-based photocatalytic materials were prepared by sol - gel method using Fe3+ and polyethyleneglycol (PEG(600)) as additives. Thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and evolved gas analysis (EGA) with MS detection were used to elucidate processes that take place during heating of Fe3+ containing titania gels. The microstructure development of the Fe2O3/TiO2 gel samples with and without PEG(600) admixtures was characterized by emanation thermal analysis ( ETA) under in situ heating in air. A mathematical model was used for the evaluation of ETA results. Surface area and porosity measurements of the samples dried at 120 ° C and the samples preheated for 1 h to 300 and 500 ° C were compared. From the XRD measurements it was confirmed that the crystallization of anatase took place after thermal heating up to 600 ° C.