Photocatalytic oxidation of benzene to phenol and dye over N and S doped ferromagnetic nanosize TiO2

Abstract

Abstract In the present investigation we report presence of N, S and Ti3+ in the TiO2 samples and surface exhibits acidic characteristics. Synthesized TiO2 samples were also found to be ferromagnetic in nature at room temperature and shows high photocatalytic activity in comparison to commercially available TiO2 (DP-25). Nanosize TiO2 with high surface area was obtained by simple sol – gel method of synthesis and during the synthesis hydrazine sulphate was used as fuel. Synthesized TiO2 was found to be with N and S doping and also surface defects were present due to cationic and anionic vacancies. The presence of defects were confirmed from the Raman, IR, SEM-EDAX, PL analysis. Presence of Ti3+ in the TiO2 samples was confirmed from the ESR and XPS Spectra. XPS also showed presence of nitrogen and sulphur doping in the TiO2 samples. Synthesized TiO2 possesses acidic surface and surface acidity was measured from the pyridine adsorption and NH3-TPD studies. Ferromagnetic behavior of the synthesized samples was confirmed from the VSM measurements. Synthesized samples were further studied for their photocatalytic activity towards methylene blue dye and 4-nitrophenol degradation and for photo-oxidation benmezene to phenol conversion.