title: Cobalt and sulfur co-doped nano-size TiO2 for photodegradation of various dyes and phenol.
abstract: Various compositions of cobalt and sulfur co-doped titania nano-photocatalyst are synthesized via sol-gel method. A number of techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), Raman, N2 sorption, electron microscopy are used to examine composition, crystalline phase, morphology, distribution of dopants, surface area and optical properties of synthesized materials. The synthesized materials consisted of quasispherical nanoparticles of anatase phase exhibiting a high surface area and homogeneous distribution of dopants. Cobalt and sulfur co-doped titania demonstrated remarkable structural and optical properties leading to an efficient photocatalytic activity for degradation of dyes and phenol under visible light irradiations. Moreover, the effect of dye concentration, catalyst dose and pH on photodegradation behavior of environmental pollutants and recyclability of the catalyst is also examined to optimize the activity of nano-photocatalyst and gain a better understanding of the process.
authors.affiliation: KAUST Catalysis Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia; National Centre for Physics, Quaid-i-Azam University Complex, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan; Chemistry Department, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Asima
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siddiqa
authors.affiliation: KAUST Catalysis Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: dilshad.masih@kaust.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Dilshad
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Masih
authors.affiliation: Imaging and Characterization Lab, KAUST, Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Dalaver
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Anjum
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Department, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan. Electronic address: m_sidiq12@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siddiq
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D003035:Cobalt / Q000737:chemistry*; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D019800:Phenol / Q000737:chemistry*; D010782:Photolysis; D013455:Sulfur / Q000737:chemistry*; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; C009495:titanium dioxide; D019800:Phenol; D003035:Cobalt; D013455:Sulfur; D014025:Titanium
keywords: Co-doped TiO(2); Dye degradation; Nanoparticles; Phenol; Photocatalysis