Synthesis of TiO2/Cu2O heterojunction material based on SiO2 nanospheres and its application in anti-oxidation and antibacterial coatings

To enhance the bactericidal efficacy of TiO 2 /Cu 2 O composite coatings and mitigate the issue of ongoing oxidation, we introduced different sizes of spherical silica as supporting materials, combined with TiO 2 /Cu 2 O, to develop a novel antibacterial, antioxidant photocatalytic system. The synthesized ST and STC samples underwent comprehensive characterization using transmission electron microscopy. Subsequent analyses employing X-ray diffraction and UV–Vis diffuse reflectance systematically validated the preserved structural integrity and enhanced photochemical stability of the developed materials. The introduction of silica spheres not only significantly increased the specific surface areas of TiO 2 and Cu 2 O, thereby enhancing their interfacial contact, but also promoted efficient charge separation of photogenerated electrons and holes. Furthermore, this approach reduced the required amount of TiO 2 and Cu 2 O, leading to cost savings. These advantages make the developed coating highly suitable for industrial-scale sterilization applications.