Selective detection of Fe 3+ ion using Zn 2 TiO 4 through fluorescence quenching probes

In the present work, rutile-free Zn 2 TiO 4 has been synthesized by the solid-state method using TiO 2 as hydrated titania and ZnO of 1:2 molar ratio. The reaction mixture was calcined at different temperature ranges 550 o C to 950 o C. The phase evolution was identified by Raman spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction methods. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the morphology of the material, which showed irregular micron-sized and aggregated particles. Upon calcination at 950 o C, rutile-free, pure cubic Zn 2 TiO 4 was obtained as evidenced by the aforementioned spectral analysis. The optical bandgap of the calcined products was calculated using UV-Visible diffuse reflectance spectra, which were found to be in the range of 3.55 to 3.85 eV. The fluorescent emission characteristics of the Zn 2 TiO 4 , and their quenching effects by adding various metal ions, owing to the formation of complexes between the metal ions and the surface of the Zn 2 TiO 4 , were investigated. The sensing properties were also evaluated using the standard Stern–Volmer quenching model. The results showed that Zn 2 TiO 4 possesses high sensitivity and selectivity towards iron ions.