Preparation and photocatalytic properties of TiO2–montmorillonite doped with nitrogen and sulfur

A novel photocatalyst, N and S co-doped TiO2–montmorillonite (NST–MMT), was synthesized by impregnating doped titania sol into the interlayers of MMT and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET). The XRD patterns and the SEM photograph illustrate that the layers of MMT were delaminated and all samples are of the anatase phase. The XPS survey spectrum confirms that TiO2 was successfully doped with N and S. The BET results show that all samples have a large surface area and mesopore structure. The photocatalytic activities of NST–MMT photocatalysts for degradation acid red G (ARG) are higher than that of undoped TiO2–montmorillonite (TPLM). The catalyst obtained at 350 °C is with the highest photocatalytic activity.