Effect of Sm3+activation on the optical properties and antibacterial activity of TiO2nanoparticles

This work presents the effect of functionalization with Sm3+on the structural, morphological, optical properties and antibacterial activity of TiO2nanoparticules (NPs). Photoluminescence spectroscopy was used to study the recombination, and transfer dynamics of photoexcited electron-hole pairs within the semiconductors and their effect on the antibacterial activity of Sm3+activated TiO2. A potential enhancement to reach 95% of the antibacterial activity efficiency of TiO2NPs was revealed after activation with Sm3+(1%) against a spectrum of bacteria under sun light irradiation. A correlation between the optical properties of TiO2-Sm nanoparticles and their antibacterial activity is presented. The proposed mechanism in the antibacterial process was discussed as a function of illumination conditions and their effect on the interaction between pathogenic organisms and TiO2-Sm NPs in relation to morphological properties. This investigation shows a potential application of TiO2- Sm3+in the control of bacterial pathogens.