Synthesis of TiO2-Ag Nanocomposites via Green Route for Dye Degradation and Antimicrobial Studies

Abstract

Synthesis of nanocomposites through green synthesis offers a few advantages over the chemical and physical procedures as it an easy, fast and eco-friendly alternative that does not involve hazardous chemicals. In this work, we report the green synthesis of TiO 2 -Ag nanocomposites using titanium tetra isopropoxide (TTIP) and silver nitrate (AgNO 3 ) as precursors, Aloe veraplant extract as reducing agent. The characterization of nanocomposites is done by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), UV-Visible spectroscopy, Scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Electrocatalytic activity of these nanocomposites was examined by degradation of crystal violet dye using potentiostat. The antimicrobial activity was tested against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria viz. Bacillus subtitles and Escherichia coli respectively. Green synthesized TiO 2 -Ag nanocomposites were of anatase phase of TiO 2 and average crystallite size was 7.06±3.2 nm. Complete decolourization of crystal violet dye was achieved in 8 h of electrolysis using TiO 2 -Ag nanocomposites. Further antimicrobial activity of TiO 2 -Ag nanocomposites is studied. The diameter of inhibition zone for gram positive Bacillus subtilis and gram negative Escherichia coli is 13 mm and 21 mm respectively. The nanocomposites exhibited greater antimicrobial activity against the gram negative bacteria Escherichia coli. The green TiO 2 -Ag nanocomposites showed effective electro-catalytic and antimicrobial activity by degrading the dye and inhibiting the bacterial growth respectively.