Tuning Semiconductor Properties of Electrospun Iron Oxide Nanofibers

Robić, Marko; Musić, Svetozar; Ristić, Mira; Marciuš, Marijan; Krehula, Stjepko (2025) Tuning Semiconductor Properties of Electrospun Iron Oxide Nanofibers. In: Malič, B.; Bradeško, A., (eds.) 60th International Conference on Microelectronics, Devices and Materials & The Workshop on Energy Management and Renewable Energy Sources: proceedings. Ljubljana, Slovenia, Society for Microelectronics, Electronic Components and Materials, p. 15 .

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Abstract

Semiconductors play a crucial role in technology; they are used in electronics, sensors, solar cells, photocatalysis, etc. Hematite (α-Fe₂O₃) is a semiconducting material whose electronic structure can be tuned via doping and nanostructuring. Hematite is a very stable and abundant mineral, chaacterized by a band gap (typically 2.0–2.2 eV) suitable for photocatalysis. Electrospinning is a process where a viscous solution is turned into nanofibers in the presence of an electric field. While commonly used in biological research and medicine¹, electrospinning can be applied in the field of semiconductors, since the resulting nanofibers are characterized by high surface-to-volume ratios—a feature desirable in catalysis. Electrospinning is compatible with a wide range of polymer and sol-gel systems, and various device designs have been developed, including portable units that enable flexible application in fields such as medicine, air/water purification, and sensors. In this work, electrospun hematite- and maghemite-based nanofibers were synthesized and doped with a series of transition and rare-earth cations (Cr³⁺, Ti⁴⁺, Er³⁺, Sm³⁺, Y³⁺) to systematically modify their composition as well as their structural and electronic properties. The aim was to explore electrospinning as a platform for material engineering—tailoring the band gap for visible-light photocatalysis² , ³. Scientific innovation in this study lies in the combination of morphological control through electro-spinning and functional tuning via dopants. The resulting hollow, porous nanofibers exhibit favorable charge carrier dynamics and enhanced catalytic behavior. Material characterization was performed using field emission electron microscopy (fiber morphology), X-ray powder diffraction (unit cell, crystallinity, composition), Mössbauer spectroscopy (magnetic properties, composition), and UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy (optical band gap estimation), confirming successful synthesis and doping effects. Preliminary results show band gap narrowing in Cr- and Ti-doped hematite (e.g., 2.15 eV →2.03 eV), with distinct trends in photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B dye under visible light. These findings validate electrospinning as a powerful tool for semiconductor material design, enabling the fabrication of custom nanofiber systems used in photocatalysis.

Item Type:

Conference or workshop item published in conference proceedings (UNSPECIFIED)

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Nanofibers; electrospinning; ceramics; magnetic properties; FE SEM

Subjects:

NATURAL SCIENCES > Chemistry > Inorganic Chemistry
NATURAL SCIENCES > Chemistry > Applied Chemistry

Divisions:

Division of Materials Chemistry

Projects: