Cu/N co-doped TiO2 nanopowder with high antibacterial activity under visible light

Cu/N co-doped TiO 2 nanopowder was prepared with a facile sol–gel method. In the absence of stabilizing agents, the co-doped nanopowder with nanoscaled particle sizes was obtained. Doping didn’t change the anatase crystal structure of TiO 2 . Cuprite Cu 2 Cl(OH) 3 formed in the co-doped nanopowder. Based on ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data, the mechanisms of significantly improved photocatalytic activity of the co-doped nanopowder were discussed. The antibacterial evaluation and cytotoxicity test suggested the nanopowder inhibited bacteria significantly under visible light and had ultralow cytotoxicity. This work provided a promising antibacterial agent with potential biomedical applications. Graphical abstract