No abstract

Nanosilver-modified TiO2 and ZnO photocatalysts were studied against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus on the surface and against naturally occurring airborne microorganisms. The photocatalysts/polymer nanohybrid films were prepared by spray coating technique on the surface of glass plates and on the inner surface of the reactive light source. The photoreactive surfaces were activated with visible light emitting LED light at λ = 405 nm. The optical properties of the prepared photocatalyst/polymer nanohybrid films were characterized by diffuse reflectance measurements. The photocatalytic properties were verified with the degradation of ethanol by gas chromatography measurements. The destruction of the bacterial cell wall component was examined with transmission electron microscope. The antibacterial effect of the photocatalyst/polymer nanohybrid films was tested with different methods and with the associated standard ISO 27447:2009. With the photoreactive coatings, an extensive disinfectant film was developed and successfully prepared. The cell wall component of S. aureus was degraded after 1 h of illumination. The antibacterial effect of the nanohybrid films has been proven by measuring the decrease of the number of methicillin-resistant S. aureus on the surface and in the air as the function of illumination time. The photocatalyst/polymer nanohybrid films could inactivate 99.9 % of the investigated bacteria on different thin films after 2 h of illumination with visible light source. The reactive light source with the inner-coated photocatalyst could kill 96 % of naturally occurring airborne microorganisms after 48 h of visible light illumination in indoor air sample. The TEM results and the microbiological measurements were completed with toxicity tests carried out with Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence bacterium.

Silver-modified titania samples (Ag-TiO 2 ) with varying silver content (0.1-1.0 wt%) were prepared. Silver-modification of titanium dioxide was examined by TEM, XRD, XPS and DR-UV-vis spectroscopy. Ag or AgO x particles on TiO 2 surface could not be observed by XRD and TEM investigation, however the color of the Ag-TiO 2 samples varied between light rose and purple-brown. XPS measurements revealed that silver exists mainly in oxide form. The photocatalytic activity of pure and Ag-TiO 2 samples were compared both in solid-liquid and in solid-gas interfaces. In the liquid phase the 2,2 -thiodiethanol was used as test molecule. Ethanol photodegradation was examined in gas phase at dry initial condition. It was shown that the rate of photooxidation of organic compounds significantly enhanced by silver-modification of titania.

No abstract

Bi-crystalline nanofibres containing 93.2% anatase and 6.8% brookite showed the highest photocatalytic activity among a series of TiO2 photocatalysts because of their ability to generate high photocurrents and to maintain a stable photoresponse.

Montmorillonite- composites containing various transition metal ions (silver, copper, or nickel) were prepared, and their photocatalytic efficiencies were tested in the degradation of ethanol vapor at 70% relative humidity. Two light sources, UV-rich ( = 254 nm) and visible ( = 435 nm), were used. The kinetics of degradation was monitored by gas chromatography. It was established that, in the case of each catalyst, ethanol degradation was more efficient in UV-C ( = 254 nm) than in visible light, furthermore, these samples containing silver or copper ions were in each case about twice more efficient than P25 (Degussa AG.) used as a reference. In photooxidation by visible light, /clay samples doped with silver or copper were also more efficient than the reference sample, P25 . We show that doping metal ions can also be delivered to the surface of the support by ion exchange and significantly alters the optical characteristics of the /clay composite.

No abstract

Silver functionalized TiO