Antibacterial and Photodegradative Properties of Metal Doped TiO2 thin Films Under Visible Light.

Doped (Au, Ag) and undoped TiO2 thin films were prepared on soda-lime glass via the sol-gel method by dip-coating from TiCl4 precursor, followed by 30 minutes calcination at 500 °C to obtain transparent thin films with good adhesion to the substrate. XRD analysis showed that the particle size of samples heat treated at 500 °C was ~10 nm for all of the samples prepared, both doped and undoped ones. SEM images revealed that the thin film surface was homogeneous and nano-porous. The hydrophilicity of the thin films was estimated by contact angle measurements. The photodegradation rate of an aqueous solution of the azo dye Plasmocorinth B on the thin films was tested by in-situ UV-Vis spectroscopic measurements of the dye solution. The best photocatalytic activity under visible and UVA light was exhibited by undoped TiO2 thin films, whereas Au doped thin films were slightly less active. On the other hand, the best antimicrobial activity toward the E. coli strain DH5a under visible light was displayed by the Au/TiO2 thin films.