Crystalline S-doped TiO2 photoanodes from amorphous titanium oxysulfide (TiOxSy) for photo-oxidation reactions

S-doped TiO2 films were prepared by oxidation annealing of amorphous titanium oxysulfide (TiOxSy) at different temperatures. According to the X-ray diffraction patterns, the films calcined at temperatures of 300–600 °C showed only anatase phase, while the uncalcined sample was amorphous. The chemical composition of synthesized TiOxSy was estimated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). High-resolution S 2p spectra showed S−2 bonds at 163.47 eV for the amorphous sample. The intensity of this signal decreased after heat treatment. Raman spectroscopy indicated an organization of the material structure with heat treatment of the material. Furthermore, optical characterization revealed that sulfur as dopant into the anatase TiO2 structure, shifted light absorption from ultraviolet to the visible region. Photoeletrochemical studies developed under polychromatic irradiation revealed superior photocurrents for samples calcined at 600 °C, with n-type behavior, adequate for photo-oxidation reactions.