Enhanced photocatalytic and antibacterial ability of cu-doped anatase tio2 thin films: theory and experiment

DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b22056

Authors: Abdullah M Alotaibi (University College London; King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST)) , Benjamin A. D. Williamson (University College London) , Sanjay Sathasivam (University College London) , Andreas Kafizas (University College London (UCL)) , Mahdi Alqahtani (University College London; King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST)) , Carlos Sotelo-Vazquez (University College London) , John Buckeridge (University College London) , Jiang Wu (University College London; University of Electronic Science and Technology of China) , Sean P. Nair (UCL Eastman Dental Institute) , David O. Scanlon (University College London; Diamond Light Source) , Ivan P. Parkin (University College London)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Acs Applied Materials & Interfaces

State: Published (Approved)
Published: February 2020

Abstract: Multifunctional thin films which can display both photocatalytic and antibacterial activity are of great interest industrially. Here, for the first time, we have used aerosol assisted chemical vapour deposition (AACVD) to deposit highly photoactive thin films of Cu-doped anatase TiO2 on glass substrates. The films displayed much enhanced photocatalytic activity relative to pure anatase, and showed excellent antibacterial (vs S.Aureus and E.Coli) ability. Using a combination of transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS), photoluminescence (PL) measurements and hybrid density functional theory calculations, we have gained nanoscopic insights into the improved properties of the Cu-doped TiO2 films. Our analysis has highlighted that the interactions between substitutional and interstitial Cu in the anatase lattice can explain the extended exciton lifetimes observed in the doped samples, and the enhanced UV/visible light photoactivities observed.

Journal Keywords: Photocatalysis; antibacterial; thin films; TiO2; CVD; hybrid-DFT

Diamond Keywords: Photocatalysis; Semiconductors

Subject Areas: Materials, Chemistry, Physics


Technical Areas:

Added On: 16/03/2020 15:52

Documents:
acsami.9b22056.pdf

Discipline Tags:

Surfaces Physics Physical Chemistry Catalysis Energy Materials Chemistry Materials Science interfaces and thin films Nanoscience/Nanotechnology

Technical Tags: