White light induced photocatalytic activity of sulfur-doped TiO2 thin films and their potential for antibacterial application

Sulfur-doped titania thin films were prepared by atmospheric pressure chemical vapour deposition (APCVD) for the first time using titanium tetrachloride, ethyl acetate and carbon disulfide. The films were compared to two industrial self-cleaning products: Activ (TM) and BIOCLEAN (TM), and shown to be superior in both photocatalysis and photo-induced superhydrophilicity, two preferential properties of effective self-cleaning coatings. X-Ray diffraction showed the films have the anatase TiO2 structure. XPS and EDX analysis shows changes in S : Ti ratio with preparative conditions indicating that sulfur has indeed been incorporated into the lattice. S-Doped TiO2 films were found to be effective agents for killing the bacterium Escherichia coli using light sources commonly found in UK hospitals.