ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Synthesis and characterization of three-dimensional sea urchin-like AgBr/TiO₂ microspheres with enhanced antibacterial and visible-light photocatalytic performance

Xiue Liu, Chen Sun, Yundi Yue, Tingjiang Yan, Yuanchun He, Yang Yu, Wenjuan Li, Wenliang Wang, Kunlei Zhu, and Zhihong Jing

Qufu Normal University, Qufu, China

E-mail: zhhjing@126.com

Abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) AgBr/TiO₂ microspheres with remarkable sea urchin-like architectures were prepared by a solvothermal-hydrothermal two-step process. The products have been characterized through XRD, SEM, HRTEM and Nitrogen adsorption–desorption analysis. The antibacterial activity of the 3D AgBr/TiO₂ microspheres against Escherichia coli (E. coli) was investigated quantitatively by microcalorimetric method for the first time. Meanwhile, the visible-light photocatalytic performance of the 3D AgBr/TiO₂ microspheres was also evaluated for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB). As a contrast, the same tests were carried out for the conventional AgBr/P25 (TiO₂). The results show that the 3D AgBr/TiO₂ microspheres prevent better antibacterial and visible-light photoctalytic performance than the conventional AgBr/P25. It revealed that unique morphology effect, the extraordinary visible-light responses of AgBr and various oxidative radicals produced by visible light irradiated 3D AgBr/TiO₂ microspheres are responsible for improved antibacterial and photocatalytic performance.

Keywords: AgBr/TiO₂ microspheres ; Solvothermal-hydrothermal two-step process ; Microcalorimetric method ; Antibacterial activity ; Visible-light photocatalytic performance 

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-019-00749-2

Chemical Papers 73 (8) 1971–1978 (2019)