Disinfection Studies on TiO₂ Thin Films Prepared bya Sol–Gel Method

Transparent anatase TiO₂ nanometer thin films were prepared by dip-coating on soda-lime glass plates via the sol–gel method. The un-calcined and the calcined films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), AFM, Nano-indentation (hardness and Young's modulus), UV-vis spectrometry, thickness and hydrophilicity (contact angle measurements). The photocatalytic activity of the thin films was evaluated by performing disinfection studies on the Gram-negative microorganisms like Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus Aureus, a Gram-positive organism. The photocatalytic activity for both groups of organisms was studied in saline and nutrient broth. The leakage of potassium from the bacteria was observed parallel to cell viability. The activity of the sol–gel prepared TiO₂ thin films were compared under UV lamps and natural day light (ND) lamps with Degussa P-25 TiO₂ thin films prepared on soda-lime glass using a polymer support and the commercial self-cleaning glass (SC). The sol–gel prepared thin films which were annealed at 450 °C, show highest photocatalytic activity, the slowest conversion rate from hydrophilic to a hydrophobic state, light-induced hydrophilicity, and also higher disinfection activities compared to P-25 films and commercial self-cleaning glass. The films also show excellent activities when continuously reused for more than a month.