Optimization of APTES/TiO2 nanomaterials modification conditions for antibacterial properties and photocatalytic activity

In this work, the influence of the modifier concentration and the temperature of modification on the antibacterial and photocatalytic properties of titanium dioxide (TiO2) functionalized with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) was investigated. The new APTES/TiO2 nanomaterials were obtained by the solvothermal method. The studies confirmed the presence of N, C and Si in the TiO2 structure, indicating that the modification was performed successfully. Furthermore, the antibacterial properties of the samples were investigated based on Escherichia coli inactivation in saline solution. The decomposition of methylene blue determined the photocatalytic activity under UV irradiation. For the E. coli inactivation process, the best concentration of the photocatalyst was 0.1 g/L, while for dye degradation tests, the optimum semiconductor dose was 0.5 g/L. The best antibacterial properties presented photocatalysts obtained by modification with 250 mM of APTES solution. In the case of methylene blue decomposition, the photoactivity increased with the increase of APTES concentration, while the modification temperature from 120°C to 180°C had no significant impact on the activity of the tested samples.