Synthesis, characterization, and visible light activity of new nanoparticle photocatalysts based on silver, carbon, and sulfur-doped TiO2

New nanoparticle photocatalysts based on silver, carbon, and sulfur-doped TiO2 having only the homogeneous anatase crystalline phase and high surface area were successfully synthesized by a modified sol-gel route. The catalysts were characterized by EDX, XRD, BET, UV-vis, IR, and Raman spectroscopy. The effects of the experimental parameters on the visible light reactivity of the catalysts were evaluated for the photodegradation of gaseous acetaldehyde as a model indoor pollutant. The activity results show that the silver(l) ion, Ag+, doping significantly promotes the visible light reactivities of carbon and sulfur-doped TiO2 catalysts without any phase transformation from anatase to rutile. Moreover, Ag/(C, S)-TiO2 photocatalysts degrade acetaldehyde 10 times faster in visible light and 3 times faster in UV light illuminations than the accredited photocatalyst P25-TiO2. The commendable visible photoactivities of Ag/(C, S)-TiO2 new nanoparticle photocatalysts are predominantly attributable to an improvement in anatase crystallinity, high surface area, low band gap and nature of precursor materials used. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.