Noble metal-modified faceted anatase titania photocatalysts: Octahedron versus decahedron.

Octahedral anatase particles (OAP, with eight equivalent {101} facets) and decahedral anatase particles (DAP, with two additional {001} facets) were modified with nanoparticles of noble metals (Au, Ag, Cu). The titania morphology, expressed by the presence of different arrangements of exposed crystal facets, played a key role in the photocatalytic properties of metal-modified faceted titania. In the UV/vis systems, two-faceted configuration of DAP was more favorable for the reaction efficiency than single-faceted OAP because of an efficient charge separation described by the transfer of electrons to {101} facets and holes to {001} facets.

Enhanced Photocatalytic and Antimicrobial Performance of Cuprous Oxide/Titania: The Effect of Titania Matrix.

A simple, low-cost method was applied to prepare hybrid photocatalysts of copper (I) oxide/titania. Five different TiO₂ powders were used to perform the study of the effect of titania matrix on the photocatalytic and antimicrobial properties of prepared nanocomposites. The photocatalytic efficiency of such a dual heterojunction system was tested in three reaction systems: ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis)-induced methanol dehydrogenation and oxidation of acetic acid, and 2-propanol oxidation under visible light irradiation.

Bactericidal Properties of Plasmonic Photocatalysts Composed of Noble Metal Nanoparticles on Faceted Anatase Titania.

Octahedral anatase particles (OAP) with eight equivalent {101} facets and decahedral anatase particles (DAP) with two additional {001} facets were modified with nanoparticles of noble metals (silver, copper, gold and platinum) by photodeposition, and applied for inactivation of K12. XRD, DRS, XPS and STEM analyses confirmed the presence of noble metals nanoparticles (NPs) on the surface of faceted titania samples. Both OAP and DAP samples modified with silver and copper exhibited high bactericidal activities under visible light irradiation.

Preparation of CdS and BiS quantum dots co-decorated perovskite-type KNbO ternary heterostructure with improved visible light photocatalytic activity and stability for phenol degradation.

CdS quantum dot-decorated KNbO3 composite photocatalysts co-modified with Bi2S3 QDs were designed and synthesized by a combination of the hydrothermal method with a linker-assisted adsorption route, using starch and thioglycolic acid as capping agents, which facilitated the attachment of modifiers to the surface of potassium niobate. The quantum dots were successfully deposited onto the surface of the perovskite-type KNbO3 with a good dispersion and a stable heterostructure was formed. The as-prepared photocatalysts were subsequently characterized by UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and photoluminescence (PL) emission spectroscopy.

Noble metal-modified titania with visible-light activity for the decomposition of microorganisms.

Commercial titania photocatalysts were modified with silver and gold by photodeposition, and characterized by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). It was found that silver co-existed in zero valent (core) and oxidized (shell) forms, whereas gold was mainly zero valent. The obtained noble metal-modified samples were examined with regard to antibacterial ( ()) and antifungal ( (), (), (), ()) activity under visible-light irradiation and in the dark using disk diffusion, suspension, colony growth ("poisoned food") and sporulation methods.

Size-controlled gold nanoparticles on octahedral anatase particles as efficient plasmonic photocatalyst.

Octahedral anatase particles (OAPs), prepared by ultrasonication-hydrothermal reaction (US-HT), were modified with 2 wt% of gold by photodeposition. Conditions of US-HT process such as durations of US and durations of HT were varied to obtain OAPs products different by physicochemical and morphological properties. Au/OAPs samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS).

The effect of anatase and rutile crystallites isolated from titania P25 photocatalyst on growth of selected mould fungi.

Antifungal properties of anatase and rutile crystallites isolated from commercial titania P25 photocatalyst were investigated by mycelium growth in the dark and under indoor light. Investigated fungi, i.e.

Biosynthesis of the carbohydrate moieties of arabinogalactan proteins by membrane-bound β-glucuronosyltransferases from radish primary roots.

A membrane fraction from etiolated 6-day-old primary radish roots (Raphanus sativus L. var hortensis) contained β-glucuronosyltransferases (GlcATs) involved in the synthesis of the carbohydrate moieties of arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs). The GlcATs transferred [(14)C]GlcA from UDP-[(14)C]GlcA on to β-(1 → 3)-galactan as an exogenous acceptor substrate, giving a specific activity of 50-150 pmol min(-1) (mg protein)(-1).