Visible-light-induced bactericidal activity of titanium dioxide codoped with nitrogen and silver.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles codoped with nitrogen and silver (Ag(2)O/TiON) were synthesized by the sol-gel process and found to be an effective visible light driven photocatalyst. The catalyst showed strong bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) under visible light irradiation (λ > 400 nm). In X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction characterization of the samples, the as-added Ag species mainly exist as Ag(2)O. Spin trapping EPR study showed Ag addition greatly enhanced the production of hydroxyl radicals (•OH) under visible light irradiation. The results indicate that the Ag(2)O species trapped e(CB)(-) in the process of Ag(2)O/TiON photocatalytic reaction, thus inhibiting the recombination of e(CB)(-) and h(VB)(+) in agreement with the stronger photocatalytic bactericidal activity of Ag(2)O/TiON. The killing mechanism of Ag(2)O/TiON under visible light irradiation is shown to be related to oxidative damages in the forms of cell wall thinning and cell disconfiguration.

Mechanism of Escherichia coli inactivation on palladium-modified nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide.

The cellular responses of Escherichia coli to visible light photocatalysis were characterized by chemical, optical, electron-beam, and surface-force techniques, to elucidate the mechanisms of photocatalytic inactivation of E. coli on PdO/TiON fiber. The characterization techniques included chemical assays, fluorescence microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Fluorescence microscopy using the Live/Dead BacLight kit indicates that the photocatalytic treatment resulted in severe membrane damage to the E. coli cells. SEM, AFM and TEM revealed drastic defects in the morphology and internal sub-structure of the bacterial cells after the treatments. Combining data from our previous reports on the antimicrobial properties of visible-light-activated PdO/TiON photocatalyst, the present results point to oxidative attack from the exterior to the interior of the bacteria by hydroxyl radicals as the primary mechanism of photocatalytic inactivation.

Visible-Light-Induced Photocatalytic Inactivation of Bacteria by Composite Photocatalysts of Palladium Oxide and Nitrogen-Doped Titanium Oxide.

Composite photocatalysts of palladium oxide and nitrogen-doped titanium oxide (PdO/TiON) were synthesized by a solgel process, as convenient forms of nanopowder or immobilized powder on nanofiber. The PdO/TiON catalysts were tested for visible-light-activated photocatalysis using different bacterial indicators, including gram-negative cells of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and gram-positive cells of Staphylococcus aureus. Disinfection data indicated that PdO/TiON composite photocatalysts have a much better photocatalytic activity than either palladium-doped (PdO/TiO(2)) or nitrogen-doped titanium oxide (TiON) under visible-light illumination. The roles of Pd and N were discussed in terms of the production and separation of the charge carriers under visible light illumination. The photocatalytic activity was thus dependent on dopants and light intensity. Microscopic characterization demonstrated that visible-light photocatalysis on PdO/TiON caused drastic damage on the bacteria cell wall and the cell membrane.

Monolithic Ceramic Foams for Ultrafast Photocatalytic Inactivation of Bacteria.

Palladium-modified nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide (TiON/PdO) foams were synthesized by a sol-gel process on a polyurethane foam template. The TiON/PdO foam was tested for microbial killing using Escherichia coli cells as a target. Under visible-light illumination, the TiON/PdO foam displayed a strong antimicrobial effect on the bacteria cells in water. The antimicrobial effect was found to be dependent on the palladium content and the calcination temperature. In a flow-through dynamic photoreactor, the new photocatalyst efficiently inactivated E. coli within a short contact time (< 1 min), the shortest ever reported for photocatalytic killing of bacteria. The strong antimicrobial functions of the TiON/PdO foam were related to the charge trapping by PdO and to the high contact efficiency of the foam structure.