Photodegradation of organic pollutants RhB dye using UV simulated sunlight on ceria based TiO(2) nanomaterials for antibacterial applications

To photo-catalytically degrade RhB dye using solar irradiation, CeO(2) doped TiO(2) nanocomposites were synthesized hydrothermally at 700 °C for 9 hrs. All emission spectra showed a prominent band centered at 442 nm that was attributed to oxygen related defects in the CeO(2)-TiO(2) nanocrystals. Two sharp absorption bands at 1418 cm(−1) and 3323 cm(−1) were attributed to the deformation and stretching vibration, and bending vibration of the OH group of water physisorbed to TiO(2), respectively. The photocatalytic activities of Ce-TiO(2) nanocrystals were investigated through the degradation of RhB under UV and UV+ visible light over a period of 8 hrs. After 8 hrs, the most intense absorption peak at 579 nm disappeared under the highest photocatalytic activity and 99.89% of RhB degraded under solar irradiation. Visible light-activated TiO(2) could be prepared from metal-ion incorporation, reduction of TiO(2), non-metal doping or sensitizing of TiO(2) using dyes. Studying the antibacterial activity of Ce-TiO(2) nanocrystals against E. coli revealed significant activity when 10 μg was used, suggesting that it can be used as an antibacterial agent. Its effectiveness is likely related to its strong oxidation activity and superhydrophilicity. This study also discusses the mechanism of heterogeneous photocatalysis in the presence of TiO(2).