Sol-gel pure and S-doped Ti02 powders with ecological applications

The photocatalytic degradation of pollutants using Ti02 nanopowders Or TiO thin
films is very attractive for applications to environmental protection, as a possible solution
for water depollution. The impurity doping represents one of the typical approaches in
orde to extend the spectral response of a wide band gap semiconductor to visible light. The
aim of the present work was to establish the influence of the S-dopant on the photocatalytic
properties of the TiO2 nanopowders. The relationship between the synthesis conditions and
the properties of the un-doped and S-doped Ti02 materials, such as thermal stability, phase
composition, crystallinity, morphology, and size of particles, and the influence of the
dopant were investigated. The influence of S on TiOz2 crystallization was also studied
(lattice parameters, crystallite sizes, internal strains). The photocatalytic activities of the
prepared TiO2 based nanopowders were determined by testing them in the degradation of
different chloride organic compounds from aqueous solutions. It was established that the
presence of S dopant in the TiO2 powders has improved their photocatalytic activities.