A highly efficient TiO(2-x)C(x) nano-heterojunction photocatalyst for visible light induced antibacterial applications

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2013 Mar 13;5(5):1663-72. doi: 10.1021/am302676a. Epub 2013 Feb 19.

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.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Catalysis / radiation effects
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods*
  • Light
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
  • Staphylococcus aureus / growth & development
  • Titanium / chemistry*
  • Titanium / pharmacology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • titanium dioxide
  • Titanium