Preparation and Characterization of Zinc and Cerium Co-doped Titania Nano-materials with Antibacterial Activity

Zinc and cerium co-doped titania (Zn/Ce-TiO2) nano-materials were synthesized by a Sol-Gel method at different calcination temperatures. Zn/Ce-TiO2 nano-materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscope (XPS) and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). With the test of bacterial inhibition zone, the antibacterial properties of Zn/Ce-TiO2 nano-materials on E. coli. were investigated. The results show that crystallinity and the crystal phase of nano-materials are closely dependent on the calcination temperature. Zinc ions and cerium ions exist in the form of Zn2Ti3O8 and CeO2 phase, respectively. The Zn/Ce-TiO2 nano-materials synthesized exhibit enhanced antibacterial activity under visible light irradiation compared with it in the dark. Ultimately, the action mechanism of Zn/Ce co-doping is discussed.