Copper Modified Titania Nanocomposites with a High Photocatalytic Inactivation of Escherichia coli.

Abstract

As everyone knows, bacterial infectious diseases are serious hazards to human health in the world. Despite performing many methods towards the bacterial pollution, containing many detection and sterilization techniques, there is still a lack of effective means. Herein, a novel copper modified titanium (Cu@TiO₂) nanocomposites were resoundingly synthesized via the well-known sol-gel process, which revealed a significant antibacterial activity under the illumination of sunlight. The XRD, Raman spectroscopy and TEM images showed that the Cu@TiO₂ nanocomposites with a globular shape are anatase phase, Moreover, low temperature physical adsorption test and UV- visible spectrum indicate Cu_0.01 @TiO₂ owns a supernal specific area (80 m²/g) and the high visible light absorbing ability. Furthermore, the novel Cu@TiO₂ nanocomposites showed an unprecedented photocatalytic capacity towards Escherichia Coli (E. coli) bacteria. In vitro, Cu@TiO₂ nanocomposites can kill almost 98.7% E. coli under 60 min simulated solar light irradiation than that of TiO ₂(31.3 %). This study suggests that the Cu@TiO₂ will be as a potential material for ameliorating antibiotic-resistant bacteria in food detection.