A multifunctional biocide/sporocide and photocatalyst based on titanium dioxide (TiO2) codoped with silver, carbon, and sulfur.
Composite nanostructured samples of Ag (0.5-20%)/(C, S)-TiO(2) were synthesized and characterized by EDX, XRD, FT-IR, UV-vis, BET, XPS, and zeta potential measurements. Photocatalytic and biocidal tests revealed that the amount of the codoped silver (Ag(+)) in (C, S)-TiO(2) played a crucial, distinctive role in the photodegradation of gas-phase acetaldehyde as well as in the inactivation of Escherichia coli cells and Bacillus subtilis spores. Very interestingly, Ag/(C, S)-TiO(2) nanoparticles (crystallite size <10 nm) have shown very strong antimicrobial properties without light activation against both E. coli (log kill >8) and B. subtilis spores (log kill >5) for 30 min exposures, compared with P25-TiO(2). Thus, for the first time, we have demonstrated that titanium dioxide (an environmentally friendly photocatalyst) codoped with silver, carbon, and sulfur can serve as a multifunctional generic biocide as well as a visible light activated photocatalyst.
Department of Chemistry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, USA.
Dambar B
DB
Hamal
Johanna A
JA
Haggstrom
George L
GL
Marchin
Myles A
MA
Ikenberry
Keith
K
Hohn
Kenneth J
KJ
Klabunde
D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002384:Catalysis; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D010316:Particle Size; D010777:Photochemistry; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013455:Sulfur / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology
D004202:Disinfectants; C009495:titanium dioxide; D012834:Silver; D013455:Sulfur; D002244:Carbon; D014025:Titanium