**Acknowledgements**

Phenol Anatase

220 Emerging Pollutants in the Environment - Current and Further Implications

4,4'-Bis(2-sulfostyryl)biphenyl Rutile

Succinate Rutile

Succinic acid Hematite

common ligands on metal oxides surfaces.

occurring in metal oxide photocatalysis.

**5. Concluding remarks**

Toluene TiO2 (synthesis)

P25

Anatase Hematite δ-Alumina Lepidocrocite

β-Picoline TiO2 (synthesis) Adsorption [51] Polyacrylates Hematite Adsorption [95] 1,2-propylene glycol P25 Photo-Oxidation [93] Pyridine P25 Adsorption [96] Pyruvic Acid P25 Adsorption [66] Pyridine-3-carbaldehyde TiO2 (synthesis) adsorption [97]

Ru-bpy TiO2 (synthesis) Adsorption [98]

**Table 3.** Selection of previously published ATR-FTIR studies concerning the adsorption and photooxidation of

The ATR-FTIR technique offers the chance to obtain novel information concerning interfacial processes *in situ*. This information can be used to explain surface reaction mechanisms. Hence, ATR-FTIR studies are becoming increasingly popular as an investigative technique and may now be considered as one tool of choice in the field of interfacial chemistry when compared to other techniques, particularly in obtaining data under ambient conditions. This is due to the major advantages of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy such as the *in situ* data collection, as well as the

The use of ATR-FTIR in the area of photocatalysis is of great importance since it provides both qualitative and quantitative molecular insight into interfacial processes occurring in the dark (adsorption) and under UV illumination (adsorption/desorption and chemical reactions). The information obtained will often be the key for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms

Anatase Lepidocrocite

P25

high sensitivity, simplicity, and rapidity of the measurements.

P25-TiO2

Adsorption Photo-Oxidation

Photo-Oxidation [94]

Adsorption [58]

Photo-Oxidation [99]

Adsorption Photo-Oxidation [11] [93]

[51]

[85] [90]

[100]

The present study was performed within the project "Establishment of the Laboratory of Photoactive Nanocomposite Materials" (No. 14.750.31.0016) supported by a Grant from the Government of the Russian Federation. M. Faycal Atitar gratefully acknowledges a scholarship from the DAAD in the Frame of a Sandwich-Program.
