article · ACS Omega
Titanium dioxide nanoparticles and copper-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles were synthesised using a sol-gel method to assess their structural properties and antibacterial activity. Microscopic examinations revealed spherical particle shapes, while spectroscopy confirmed the integration of copper into the titanium dioxide framework. Structural analysis verified the presence of the tetragonal anatase phase in the copper-doped composite, though its thermal stability proved lower than that of pure titanium dioxide. In testing against bacteria, both the unmodified and copper-doped nanomaterials demonstrated notable efficacy, achieving an antibacterial efficiency of ninety per cent against Bacillus subtilis and eighty per cent against Escherichia coli. The addition of copper did not enhance or diminish the antibacterial performance, which is probably attributable to the relatively low copper weight content within the composite materials.
Bacterial contamination remains a persistent challenge across healthcare and industrial settings. This study demonstrates that sol-gel titanium dioxide nanoparticles can provide substantial antibacterial action against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Revealing that copper additions at low concentrations do not alter antibacterial efficacy helps guide the design of nanomaterials, ensuring efforts are directed towards formulations that deliver measurable functional advantages.
This early-stage research provides laboratory evidence for using titanium dioxide nanoparticles as antibacterial agents. Potential applications could include antimicrobial surfaces, coatings, or treatment additives for healthcare and water purification settings. Because copper doping provided no measurable benefit at the tested concentration, manufacturers would not need to incur the cost of copper integration for these specific targets. Considerable development, scale-up, and real-world safety testing remain necessary before practical deployment.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
This study reports on the antibacterial efficacy of both the TiO<sub>2</sub> and TiO<sub>2</sub>/Cu nanoparticles prepared through the sol-gel method. The materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis. The SEM and TEM showed the spherical morphology of the nanoparticles, while EDX and XPS confirmed the incorporation of Cu into the TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles. The XRD confirmed the formation of the tetragonal anatase phase of TiO<sub>2</sub>/Cu while the FTIR revealed the functional groups linked to the doped TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles. The thermal stability of TiO<sub>2</sub>/Cu was found to be lower than pure TiO<sub>2</sub>. Moreover, TiO<sub>2</sub> and the doped TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles were notably effective against <i>Bacillus subtilis</i><i>(</i><i>B. subtilis</i><i>) and</i><i>Escherichia coli</i>(<i>E. coli</i>); however, the addition of Cu to TiO<sub>2</sub> did not have any effect on the antibacterial activity probably due to the lower weight content in the composites. Interestingly, the antibacterial efficiency was determined to be 90 and 80% against <i>B. subtilis</i> and <i>E. coli</i>, respectively.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c09308
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
