• Kaus, Noor Haida Mohd
• Muniandy, Sunderishwary S.
• Tan, Shueai
• Sasidharan, S.
• Lee, Hooi Ling

Abstract

Heterogeneous nanocomposites consist of metal oxide and noble metals such as titanium dioxide (TiO 2 )-silver (Ag) are explored extensively using various methods. In the current work, TiO 2 -Ag nanocomposites (NCs) were prepared using a facile hydrothermal technique. The nanocomposites were synthesised at 160 °C for 24 hours with titanium(IV) isopropoxide (TTIP), silver nitrate (AgNO 3 ) as precursors and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a reducing agent. The sample with the best antibacterial and photocatalytic properties were further characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption analysis (NAA) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The as-synthesised TiO 2 -Ag nanocomposites with different TTIP loading were tested on methylene blue under sunlight as well as antibacterial activities against Gram-positive bacteria ( Bacillus subtilis ) and Gram-negative bacteria ( Escherichia coli ). TiO 2 -Ag nanocomposite showed two times broader zone of inhibition than AgNPs on both Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. This smart material synthesised via green method has high potential in applications that combine both self-cleaning and antibacterial properties.

Topics

• nanocomposite
• silver
• x-ray diffraction
• Nitrogen
• titanium
• neutron activation analysis
• field-emission scanning electron microscopy