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Copper-doped TiO 2 nanoparticles were synthesised using an ultrasonic-assisted solÀgel method with various doping concentrations from 0 to 2.5 at.%. The samples were characterised by X-ray diffraction, UVÀvis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UVÀvis), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), BrunauerÀ EmmettÀTeller surface area determination, and zeta potential. The presence of copper in TiO 2 crystal structure was revealed by UVÀvis spectra, and the TEM analysis showed that particles are mainly spherical around the size range of 15À20 nm. In addition, doping copper into TiO 2 lattice caused a decrease in the surface area due to the aggregation of nanoparticles and a shift of isoelectric point towards lower pH when the dopant concentration increased. The photocatalytic reactivity of these materials was evaluated by the degradation of methylene blue and methyl orange under the UV light. The effect of the initial solution pH on the adsorption capacity and the photocatalytic behaviour of the Cu-doped TiO 2 in the decolourisation of these dyes were also studied.

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