Hydrothermal synthesis of nanostructured TiO2 particles and characterization of their photocatalytic antimicrobial activity


ERDURAL B. K., YÜRÜM A., BAKIR U., KARAKAŞ G.

JOURNAL OF NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY, vol.8, no.2, pp.878-886, 2008 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 8 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2008
  • Doi Number: 10.1166/jnn.2008.c267
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.878-886
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Nanostructured titania particles were synthesized by using hydrothermal processing and the photocatalytic antimicrobial activities were characterized. Both sol-gel synthesized and commercial TiO2 (anatase) samples were processed with two step hydrothermal treatments, under alkaline and neutral conditions. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images showed that alkaline treatment yields nanofibers and lamellar structured particles from the commercial anatase and sol-gel synthesized samples respectively. Further treatment of nanofibers and nanostructured lamellar particles with distilled water results with crystal growth and the formation of nano structured bipyramidal crystalline particles. The photocatalytic antimicrobial activities of the samples were determined against Escherichia coli under irradiation. It was observed that the samples treated under alkaline conditions have improved activity than the original anatase samples. Limited activity and resulting time lag in bacterial inactivation were observed for hydrothermally treated samples with distilled water. However, a post treatment comprising the UV irradiation in aqueous conditions enhanced the photocatalytic activity.