Structural, surface and optical properties of un-doped and co-doped titania nano photocatalyst for application of antibacterial activity

Titania (TiO2, referred to as UNDT) and Zirconium/Phosphorous (Zr/P) co-doped TiO2 nano photocatalysts were synthesized using the sol-gel method. The structural, morphological, surface and optical properties of TiO2 and Zr/P co-doped TiO2 nano photocatalysts were studied using XRD, FESEM, BET and UV DRS. The X-ray diffraction confirms the incorporation of Zr/P in the UNDT catalyst when peaks of co-doped UNDT shift towards higher diffraction angles. FESEM studies revealed that the average grain size of TZP6 was 16.857 nm which is lower than all photocatalysts. The surface area, pore size and pore volume of all photocatalysts were determined using N2 adsorption and desorption isotherms by plotted BET curve. The UV DRS spectra revealed that the red shift of Zr/P co-doped TiO2 represented a decrease in the energy band gap. The energy band gap of TZP6 exhibits 2.59 eV was lower than all photocatalysts. The antibacterial activity of UNDT and TZP6 photocatalysts was explored using different bacterial strains conveyed Agar-well diffusion method. The surface area increased, the band gap decreased and photocatalytic activity was enhanced due to metal (Zr) and non-metal (P) doping in TiO2, which caused the inhibition zone to increase against the bacterial growth.

Automated summary

Titania (TiO2) nano photocatalysts doped with Zirconium/Phosphorous (Zr/P) were synthesized using the sol-gel method. The incorporation of Zr/P in the TiO2 catalyst was confirmed by X-ray diffraction, and the average grain size of the doped catalyst was found to be smaller. N2 adsorption and desorption isotherms were used to determine the surface area, pore size, and pore volume of the photocatalysts, and a red shift in the UV DRS spectra indicated a decrease in the energy band gap for the Zr/P co-doped TiO2. The antibacterial activity of the photocatalysts was enhanced due to the doping, resulting in increased inhibition zones against bacterial growth.