title: A highly efficient TiO(2-x)C(x) nano-heterojunction photocatalyst for visible light induced antibacterial applications.
abstract: Visible-light-induced antibacterial activity of carbon-doped anatase-brookite titania nano-heterojunction photocatalysts are reported for the first time. These heterostructures were prepared using a novel low temperature (100 °C) nonhydrothermal low power microwave (300 W) assisted method. Formation of interband C 2p states was found to be responsible for the band gap narrowing of the carbon doped heterojunctions. The most active photocatalyst obtained after 60 min of microwave irradiation exhibits a 2-fold higher visible-light induced photocatalytic activity in contrast to the standard commercial photocatalyst Evonik-Degussa P-25. Staphylococcus aureus inactivation rate constant for carbon-doped nano-heterojunctions and the standard photocatalyst was 0.0023 and -0.0081 min(-1), respectively. It is proposed that the photoexcited electrons (from the C 2p level) are effectively transferred from the conduction band of brookite to that of anatase causing efficient electron-hole separation, which is found to be responsible for the superior visible-light induced photocatalytic and antibacterial activities of carbon-doped anatase-brookite nano-heterojunctions.
authors: Centre for Research in Engineering Surface Technology (CREST), FOCAS Institute, Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin Street, Dublin 8, Ireland.
authors: Vinodkumar
authors: V
authors: Etacheri
authors: Georg
authors: G
authors: Michlits
authors: Michael K
authors: MK
authors: Seery
authors: Steven J
authors: SJ
authors: Hinder
authors: Suresh C
authors: SC
authors: Pillai
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002384:Catalysis / Q000528:radiation effects; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D008027:Light; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium