Preparation and photocatalytic antibacterial property of nitrogen doped TiO2 nanoparticles

Nitrogen doped TiO₂ (N-TiO₂) nanoparticles with about 30 nm in size were produced by a sol–gel method and characterized respectively by UV–vis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Their photocatalytic antibacterial properties were evaluated by the antibacterial ratio against Escherichia coli in dark and under simulated sunlight respectively. The XRD pattern showed that the doped nano-TiO₂ was mainly composed of anatase phase. The XPS spectra of the N-TiO₂ sample indicated that TiO₂ was doped by nitrogen atom. The nitrogen doping created a new N 2p state slightly above the valence band top consists of O 2p state, and this pushes up the valence band top and decreased the band gap. Which leaded to the absorption edge was red-shifted to the visible light region of UV–vis spectra of nitrogen doped nano-TiO₂ comparing with pure nano-TiO₂. The antibacterial percentage of N-TiO₂ against E. coli reached to 90 % under simulated sunlight for 2 h, which was much better than that in dark, also than that of pure nano-TiO₂. The photo-catalytic antibacterial activity was activated under visible light. The structure and integrity of cell wall and cell membrane were destructed, and even caused the bacteria death.