TiO2-Based Photopolymerized Hybrid Catalysts with Visible Light Catalytic Activity Induced by In Situ Generated Ag/Au NPs

This work describes the use of surface modified TiO2 nanoparticles in combination with photopolymerizable monomers in the achieving of hybrid photocrosslinked polymer networks for photocatalysis. The surface of TiO2 nanoparticles was functionalized by means of a silane coupling agent with acrylic sequences and quaternary ammonium units in order to attain a covalent linkage of the nanoparticles inside the photocured matrix. To increase the photocatalytic performance of TiO2 NPs and to expand its catalytic activity under visible light, Ag/Au NPs were insitu photogenerated in the acrylic matrix simultaneously with the photopolymerization process. The photopolymerization profile, diffraction patterns and nanoparticles distribution were established for the hybrid films by FTIR, XRD and TEM, respectively. Additionally, the hybrid films exhibited good antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The photocatalytic efficiency of the hybrid coatings was tested on phenol and Congo Red photodecomposition under UV and visible light irradiation, the best results being observed for the materials incorporating Ag/Au NPs.