<![CDATA[N-doped TiO2-SiO2 nanocomposites were synthesized using a facile sol-gel method and characterized through various techniques. Their photocatalytic performance was assessed by degrading BPA (10 mg L−1) and inactivating Escherichia coli (~109 CFU mL−1) under single and dual contaminant conditions using a 26 W solar light simulator. Among the synthesized materials, the N-TiO2-SiO2 nanocomposite with a 10% N:Ti molar ratio (TS5N10) demonstrated the highest photocatalytic activity, achieving 83.9% BPA degradation and complete E. coli disinfection in single contaminant systems after 4 h of irradiation. Notably, TS5N10 exhibited robust performance even in dual-contaminant scenarios involving BPA and E. coli. Mechanistic investigations identified photo-generated holes as the dominant reactive species. The superior performance of TS5N10 was attributed to its nanostructure, high specific surface area, strong light absorption, and reduced photoinduced electron-hole recombination. These results highlight the potential of TS5N10 for practical water treatment applications.]]>
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