Innovative Ag–TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanofibers with Excellent Photocatalytic and Antibacterial Actions
Ag–TiO<sub>2</sub> nanostructures were prepared by electrospinning, followed by calcination at 400 °C, and their photocatalytic and antibacterial actions were studied. Morphological characterization revealed the presence of one-dimensional uniform Ag–TiO<sub>2</sub> nanostruc...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Catalysts |
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| author | Petronela Pascariu Corneliu Cojocaru Anton Airinei Niculae Olaru Irina Rosca Emmanouel Koudoumas Mirela Petruta Suchea |
| author_facet | Petronela Pascariu Corneliu Cojocaru Anton Airinei Niculae Olaru Irina Rosca Emmanouel Koudoumas Mirela Petruta Suchea |
| author_sort | Petronela Pascariu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ag–TiO<sub>2</sub> nanostructures were prepared by electrospinning, followed by calcination at 400 °C, and their photocatalytic and antibacterial actions were studied. Morphological characterization revealed the presence of one-dimensional uniform Ag–TiO<sub>2</sub> nanostructured nanofibers, with a diameter from 65 to 100 nm, depending on the Ag loading, composed of small crystals interconnected with each other. Structural characterization indicated that Ag was successfully integrated as small nanocrystals without affecting much of the TiO<sub>2</sub> crystal lattice. Moreover, the presence of nano Ag was found to contribute to reducing the band gap energy, which enables the activation by the absorption of visible light, while, at the same time, it delays the electron–hole recombination. Tests of their photocatalytic activity in methylene blue, amaranth, Congo red and orange II degradation revealed an increase by more than 20% in color removal efficiency at an almost double rate for the case of 0.1% Ag–TiO<sub>2</sub> nanofibers with respect to pure TiO<sub>2</sub>. Moreover, the minimum inhibitory concentration was found as low as 2.5 mg/mL for <i>E. coli</i> and 5 mg/mL against <i>S. aureus</i> for the 5% Ag–TiO<sub>2</sub> nanofibers. In general, the Ag–TiO<sub>2</sub> nanostructured nanofibers were found to exhibit excellent structure and physical properties and to be suitable for efficient photocatalytic and antibacterial uses. Therefore, these can be suitable for further integration in various important applications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:40:25Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4344 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:40:25Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Catalysts |
| spelling | doaj.art-5a144ce90cab40b789668a8cc8116cb92023-11-22T17:44:18ZengMDPI AGCatalysts2073-43442021-10-011110123410.3390/catal11101234Innovative Ag–TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanofibers with Excellent Photocatalytic and Antibacterial ActionsPetronela Pascariu0Corneliu Cojocaru1Anton Airinei2Niculae Olaru3Irina Rosca4Emmanouel Koudoumas5Mirela Petruta Suchea6“Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iasi, Romania“Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iasi, Romania“Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iasi, Romania“Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iasi, Romania“Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iasi, RomaniaCenter of Materials Technology and Photonics, School of Engineering, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Heraklion, GreeceCenter of Materials Technology and Photonics, School of Engineering, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Heraklion, GreeceAg–TiO<sub>2</sub> nanostructures were prepared by electrospinning, followed by calcination at 400 °C, and their photocatalytic and antibacterial actions were studied. Morphological characterization revealed the presence of one-dimensional uniform Ag–TiO<sub>2</sub> nanostructured nanofibers, with a diameter from 65 to 100 nm, depending on the Ag loading, composed of small crystals interconnected with each other. Structural characterization indicated that Ag was successfully integrated as small nanocrystals without affecting much of the TiO<sub>2</sub> crystal lattice. Moreover, the presence of nano Ag was found to contribute to reducing the band gap energy, which enables the activation by the absorption of visible light, while, at the same time, it delays the electron–hole recombination. Tests of their photocatalytic activity in methylene blue, amaranth, Congo red and orange II degradation revealed an increase by more than 20% in color removal efficiency at an almost double rate for the case of 0.1% Ag–TiO<sub>2</sub> nanofibers with respect to pure TiO<sub>2</sub>. Moreover, the minimum inhibitory concentration was found as low as 2.5 mg/mL for <i>E. coli</i> and 5 mg/mL against <i>S. aureus</i> for the 5% Ag–TiO<sub>2</sub> nanofibers. In general, the Ag–TiO<sub>2</sub> nanostructured nanofibers were found to exhibit excellent structure and physical properties and to be suitable for efficient photocatalytic and antibacterial uses. Therefore, these can be suitable for further integration in various important applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/11/10/1234nano-Ag–TiO<sub>2</sub> nanostructured nanofiberselectrospinningUV-visible light assisted photocatalytic activityphotodegradation kineticsantimicrobial activity |
| spellingShingle | Petronela Pascariu Corneliu Cojocaru Anton Airinei Niculae Olaru Irina Rosca Emmanouel Koudoumas Mirela Petruta Suchea Innovative Ag–TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanofibers with Excellent Photocatalytic and Antibacterial Actions Catalysts nano-Ag–TiO<sub>2</sub> nanostructured nanofibers electrospinning UV-visible light assisted photocatalytic activity photodegradation kinetics antimicrobial activity |
| title | Innovative Ag–TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanofibers with Excellent Photocatalytic and Antibacterial Actions |
| title_full | Innovative Ag–TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanofibers with Excellent Photocatalytic and Antibacterial Actions |
| title_fullStr | Innovative Ag–TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanofibers with Excellent Photocatalytic and Antibacterial Actions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Innovative Ag–TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanofibers with Excellent Photocatalytic and Antibacterial Actions |
| title_short | Innovative Ag–TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanofibers with Excellent Photocatalytic and Antibacterial Actions |
| title_sort | innovative ag tio sub 2 sub nanofibers with excellent photocatalytic and antibacterial actions |
| topic | nano-Ag–TiO<sub>2</sub> nanostructured nanofibers electrospinning UV-visible light assisted photocatalytic activity photodegradation kinetics antimicrobial activity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/11/10/1234 |
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