Physical property and photo-catalytic activity of sulfur doped TiO2 catalysts responding to visible light

The S-doping caused the photon-to-carrier conversion in the energy region below the band gap of pure TiO2. The photocatalyst applications of the S-doped TiO2, therefore, are of great importance. Synthesized S-doped TiO2 powders were characterized by SEM, EDS, XRD, UV–vis, FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy tests. The photocatalytic activity of S-doped TiO2 powder and Degussa p-25 was evaluated using UV–vis absorption spectroscopy through degradation of methyleneblue (MB) solution. The S-doped TiO2 powders with size ∼50 nm were successfully prepared by thermal hydrolysis method. Only anatase phase was detected by Raman results for S-doped TiO2 powders calcined at 600 °C for 70 min. Photocatalytic activity of sample for degradation of methylene blue showed that 0.56% S-doped TiO2 under visible light has higher photocatalytic activity than Degussa p-25.

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► We have synthesized S-doped TiO2 photocatalyst.
► The S modification further enhanced the crystallization degree of the anatase.
► The S modification resulted in a slight absorbance for visible lights.
► S-doped TiO2 under visible light has higher photocatalytic activity than Degussa p-25.
► S-doped TiO2 could be easily activated by visible lights.