Preparation of iron oxide thin film by metal organic deposition from Fe(III)-acetylacetonate: a study of photocatalytic properties

Abstract Iron oxide thin films have been deposited over fused quartz substrate by simple metal organic deposition from Fe-(III) acetylacetonate as the organic precursor. The decomposition of Fe-acetylacetonate is characterised by its distinct transition temperatures and thermogravimetric loss rates, which have been measured by thermal gravimetric analysis. As-deposited films were sintered in the temperature range 365–800°C and the structural changes of the iron oxide thin films as they transform into different crystalline phases have been studied by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy techniques. Mainly amorphous γ-Fe 2 O 3 is formed at an annealing temperature of approximately 365–400°C, which transforms to α-Fe 2 O 3 phase with a further increase (600–800°C) in sintering temperature. The film sintered at 800°C consists of mainly crystalline α-Fe 2 O 3 phase, which shows photocatalytic degradation of an oxygenated aqueous solution of phenol upon visible light illumination.