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

In the present investigation we report presence of N, S and Ti 3+ in the TiO 2 samples and surface exhibits acidic characteristics. Synthesized TiO 2 samples were also found to be ferromagnetic in nature at room temperature and shows high photocatalytic activity in comparison to commercially available TiO 2 (DP-25). Nanosize TiO 2 with high surface area was obtained by simple sol – gel method of synthesis and during the synthesis hydrazine sulphate was used as fuel. Synthesized TiO 2 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 Ti 3+ in the TiO 2 samples was confirmed from the ESR and XPS Spectra. XPS also showed presence of nitrogen and sulphur doping in the TiO 2 samples. Synthesized TiO 2 possesses acidic surface and surface acidity was measured from the pyridine adsorption and NH 3 -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.