Abstract

Sri Wahyuni^1,2, Eko Sri Kunarti¹, Respati Tri Swasono¹ and Indriana Kartini¹

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/ojc/330129

A series of TiO₂(nanorod)-SiO₂nanocomposite (TS) with different mole ratios was prepared by sonication  technique. Nanorod TiO₂ was prepared by solvothermal assisted by EDTA, while SiO₂ was prepared by sol-gel method. Various amount of SiO₂ powder was combined with nanorod TiO₂ to form TiO₂(nanorod)-SiO₂nanocomposite. Based on XRD and TEM results, the TiO₂ was rod-likeanatase crystalline phase with the rod length of about 20-50 nm, while spherical SiO₂ was a large particle with adiameter of about 200 nm. The deposition of nanorod TiO₂ on the surface of spherical SiO₂resulted in composites with slightly smaller crystallite size than that of the pristine nanorod TiO₂ of about 21-27 nm. The BET surface area of the TS composites was variable, of about 61.8–67.6 m² g^-1. The photoactivity of the composites was examined by measuring the zone inhibition of the composites to the growth of E. coli and B. subtillis, as a model of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, respectively. The composites have shown significant antimicrobial activity over both bacteria, which are slightly higher than that of pristine nanorod TiO₂.

nanorod; TiO2; SiO2; nanocomposite; sonication

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