| Summary: | Defect-engineering of TiO<sub>2</sub> can have a major impact on its photocatalytic properties for the degradation of persisting and non-biodegradable pollutants. Herein, a series of intrinsic and extrinsic defects are induced by post annealing of crystalline TiO<sub>2</sub> under different reducing atmospheres. A detailed optoelectronic characterization sheds light on the key characteristics of the defect-engineered TiO<sub>2</sub> nanopowders that are linked to the photocatalytic performance of the prepared photocatalysts. The photodegradation of a model dye, malachite green, as well as the inactivation of bacterial endospores of the <i>Geobacillus stearothermophilus</i> species were studied in the presence of the developed catalysts under visible light illumination. Our results indicate that a combination of certain defects is necessary for the improvement of the photocatalytic process for water purification and disinfection under visible light.
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