Cu-doped TiO(2) nanoparticles for photocatalytic disinfection of bacteria under visible light.

Two percent Cu-doped TiO(2) nanoparticles were prepared by a modified ammonia-evaporation-induced synthetic method, calcined at 450°C, and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, ESR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectrum, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Doping shifts the optical absorption edge to the visible region but increases the charge-transfer resistance and decreases the capacitance. Under visible light, the composite nanoparticles very efficiently catalyze the disinfection of Escherichia coli. The prepared oxide is selective in photocatalysis; under UV light, its photocatalytic activity to degrade sunset yellow, rhodamine B, and methylene blue dyes is less than that of the undoped one.