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Title: Heat treatment effect on the physical properties of cobalt doped TiO{sub 2} sol–gel materials

Journal Article · · Materials Characterization
;  [1]; ;  [2]
  1. Laboratoire de Photovoltaique de Semi-conducteur et de Nanostructure, Centre de Recherches et des Technologies de l'Energie, Technopole borj cedria, Bp 95, hammamm lif 2050 (Tunisia)
  2. Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, UMR 8502 CNRS - Université Paris-Sud, Bât 510, 91405 Orsay cedex (France)

Cobalt doped and undoped TiO{sub 2} powders have been prepared by sol–gel technique and annealed at temperatures ranging from 400 °C to 1000 °C. The effects of annealing temperature on the structural, morphological and optical properties have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, electron energy-loss spectroscopy and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. For all doped samples there is a general reduction of the band gap energy, in comparison with undoped samples prepared in the same conditions. More specifically, experimental results indicate that cobalt doping, occurring as Co{sup 2+} ion insertion into the TiO{sub 2} (Ti{sup 4+}) host lattice, inhibits the growth of the crystallites and delays the phase transformation from anatase to rutile. Moreover, at high temperature, a secondary phase (CoTiO{sub 3}) is found to coexist with highly crystalline rutile. These structural characteristics are discussed in relation with the observed general trends for the optical properties. - Highlights: • Cobalt doped and undoped TiO{sub 2} powders have been prepared by sol–gel route. • Doping makes the band gap narrower. • Doping delays the phase transformation from anatase to rutile. • Doping inhibits the growth of the crystallites. • At high annealing temperature a CoTiO{sub 3} phase coexists with highly crystalline rutile.

OSTI ID:
22288676
Journal Information:
Materials Characterization, Vol. 85; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2013 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1044-5803
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English