Page 13 - Book of Abstracts 2020

8 Biannual Conference on Chemistry - CHEM 08
th

Cu2O/TiO2 Enhanced Self-cleaning, Antibacterial Activity,
and UV Protection of Cotton Fiber under Sunlight

Mohamed M. Ibrahim
Taif University, College of Science, Chemistry Department
Corresponding author: ibrahim652001@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

A facile synthesis of high
thermally stable nanocrystalline
anatase TiO2 NPs doped with
Cu2O NPs. A Z-scheme
mechanism was used to account
for the enhanced photocatalytic
activity exhibited by these
materials. Also, the
nanocomposite was impregnated
in cotton fabric to obtain a modified fiber with high thermal stability, self-
cleaning, enhanced UV protection, and antibacterial activity. The as-
prepared nanomaterials and the coated fabric were characterized by
various physicochemical techniques such as XRD, EDXRF, TGA, TEM,
HRTEM, and SEM. The Cu2O/TiO2 molar ratio in the nanocomposite was
found to possess a pronounced impact on the crystalline structure, size
and morphology of TiO2 NPs. The XRD revealed proper substitutions of
4+
2+
the few Ti sites by Cu ions in TiO2 host lattice. Optical measurements
showed that the plasmonic peak of the Cu2O/TiO2 nanocomposite was
affected by the copper-doping concentration, enhancing self-cleaning of
Cu2O/TiO2 under direct sunlight. The TiO2/fiber self-cleaning efficiency
(12 hrs for MB removal) was increased by the in situ growing of Cu2O (5.5
hrs). Antibacterial activity studies revealed high potential activity
of Cu2O/TiO2 against both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus)
and Gram-negative (Escherichia Coli, Kleissella pneumonia, Saccharomyces
sp.) bacteria. The promising photocatalytic and biocidal activity of our
synthesized Cu2O/TiO2 nanocomposites was ascribed to the reactive
oxygen species generated by the Z-scheme mechanism under direct
Sunlight.

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BOOK OF ABSTRACTS CHEM 08 (2020) Page 12