Photo-reduction of heavy metal ions and photo-disinfection of pathogenic bacteria under simulated solar light using photosensitized TiO₂ nanofibers.

ABSTRACT: We report the photosensitization of electrospun titania nanofibers, with a mean diameter of 195 nm, by low bandgap silver sulfide nanoparticles of 11-23 nm mean size with the aim of treating heavy metal ions and pathogenic bacteria simultaneously under simulated solar light irradiation. The 17 nm Ag₂S/TiO₂ nanofibers showed 90% photocatalytic reduction of Cr(vi) at pH of 3 with a pseudo-first order rate constant of 0.016 min^-1 which is significantly better than the previously reported for Ag-Ag₂S/TiO₂ composite particles. The antibacterial capability of the Ag₂S/TiO₂ nanofibers was evaluated via photo-disinfection of the Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. The smallest sized 11 nm Ag₂

SUBMITTER: Ghafoor S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9080839 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature