Nanostructured Fe2O3/TiO2 thick films prepared by screen printing

Abstract

Nanostructured single layered (pure TiO2, pure alpha-Fe2O3 and mixed Fe2O3/TiO2 with two different oxide ratios, 2 : 3 and 3 : 2) and double layered (TiO2 layer over a Fe2O3 layer) thick films have been fabricated by screen printing technology on a glass substrate. The pastes used for film preparation were obtained by adding an organic vehicle to the oxide powders together with a small percentage of binding glass frit. Samples were dried up to 100 degrees C and sintered at 650 degrees C/60 minutes. Structural, morphological and optical studies have been carried out using XRD, SEM analyses and UV/Vis spectroscopy. The prepared pure and mixed Fe2O3/TiO2 thick films had a homogenous nanostructure without secondary phases. Indirect band gaps were determined from the measured transmission spectra and the obtained values are in the range of literature data.