Copper and sulphur co-doped titanium oxide nanoparticles with enhanced catalytic and photocatalytic properties

Copper and sulphur co-doped titanium oxide nanoparticles have been prepared by sol-gel method to develop versatile catalysts presenting enhanced catalytic properties. Structural, morphological, chemical composition, and optical characterization of synthesized titanium oxide nanoparticles have been carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption-desorption, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), elemental analysis, inductively coupled plasma (ICP), X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRUV-vis), photoluminescence (PL) and voltammetry solid state techniques. Optimal incorporation of copper and sulphur to the titanium dioxide nanoparticles promotes photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin in water under irradiation of UV or visible light. Complete degradation of ciprofloxacin was obtained after 120 min with 0.4%Cu-0.5%S-TiO2 photocatalyst using UV and in 90 min applying visible light. Cu-S-TiO2 nanoparticles also exhibit high activity (94-98 % conversion) and excellent recyclability (with no loss of activity after 14 runs) in selective oxidation of thioanisole using H2O2 as oxidant.