TiS2 transformation into S-doped and N-doped TiO2 with visible-light catalytic activity

Abstract S-doped rutile has been prepared for the first time by hydrothermal reaction of TiS 2 in hydrochloric acid at a low temperature (180 °C), with the S atoms in three states of Ti S Ti, Ti S O and SO 4 . TiS 2 in nitric acid can also be transformed into TiO 2 , but with mixed phases of anatase and rutile, containing nitrogen atoms at interstitial sites in the form of Ti O N or Ti N O. The S TiO 2 catalyst shows a better visible-light reactivity toward adsorbed methylene blue (MB) photodegradation and hydroxylation of terephthalic acid with respect to the N TiO 2 . The possible reasons leading to the high photoactivity of the S TiO 2 are discussed in terms of the incorporated sulfur states.