Photoinactivation of bacteria by using Fe-doped TiO2-MWCNTs nanocomposites

In this study, nanocomposites of Fe-doped TiO 2 with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (0.1– 0.5 wt. %) were prepared by using sol–gel method. The structural and morphological analysis were carried out with using X-ray diffraction pattern and transmission electron microscopy, which confirm the presence of pure anatase phase and particle sizes in the range 15–20 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to determine the surface compositions of the nanocomposites. UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra confirm redshift in the optical absorption edge of nanocomposites with increasing amount of multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Nanocomposites show photoinactivation against gram-positive Bacillus subtilis as well as gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Fe-TiO 2 -multi-walled carbon nanotubes (0.5 wt. %) nanocomposites show higher photoinactivation capability as compared with other nanocomposites. The photoluminescence study reveals that the Fe-TiO 2 -multi-walled carbon nanotubes nanocomposites are capable to generate higher rate of reactive oxygen species species than that of other nanocomposites. Our experimental results demonstrated that the Fe-TiO 2 -multi-walled carbon nanotubes nanocomposites act as efficient antibacterial agents against a wide range of microorganisms to prevent and control the persistence and spreading of bacterial infections.