Preparation and Performance Study of Antibacterial Materials Based on GO−TiO2

Graphical Using graphene oxide (GO) as the substrate, GO−TiO 2 −Ag composites were prepared by in-situ growth method, and did an antibacterial activity experiment on the material. The presence of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) on the surface of GO−TiO 2 −Ag composite material greatly enhances the antibacterial activity. Ag NPs can not only destroy the outer membrane of the bacteria, but also generate Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), thus causing damage to the bacteria. A composite of graphene oxide (GO) and titanium (IV) oxide was prepared through a hydrothermal treatment by mixing TiO 2 with GO. The GO was obtained by using an improved Hummers’ method. The composite (TiO 2 -GO) only indicated a weak antibacterial effect against Escherichia coli under dark conditions. Upon introduction of silver-based nanomaterials, two new composites viz. GO−TiO 2 −Ag and GO−TiO 2 −Ag 2 S were prepared also through hydrothermal reaction. While both composites exhibit stronger antibacterial activities against E. coli than TiO 2 -GO in dark, GO−TiO 2 −Ag composite exhibited higher bactericidal rate (92 %) than GO−TiO 2 −Ag 2 S (40 %).