Photocatalytic activity of N, S co-doped and N-doped commercial anatase TiO2 powders towards phenol oxidation and E. coli inactivation under simulated solar light irradiation

Nitrogen and sulfur co-doped and N-doped TiO2 anatase TKP 102 (Tayca) were prepared by manual grinding with thiourea and urea, respectively, and annealing at 400 degrees C. Both materials showed visible-light absorption as measured by Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS). Interstitial N-doping, anionic and cationic S-doping was found when the TiO2 was doped with thiourea while TiO2 doped with urea showed only the presence of interstitial N-doping as measured by X-ray Photo-electron Spectroscopy (XPS). The N content on the surface of N-doped TKP 102 photocatalyst was 2.85 at.%. and higher than the N content in the N, S co-doped TiO2 photocatalyst (0.6 at.%).