Copper modified Ti3+ self-doped TiO2 photocatalyst for highly efficient photodisinfection of five agricultural pathogenic fungus

In this study, Ti3+ self-doped TiO2 decorated with metallic copper photocatalyst (marked as Cu/Ti3+-TiO2) was successfully prepared by a novel method. The ESR (Electron Spin Resonance) analysis indicated that the synthesized sample contained Ti3+. The TEM (transmission electron microscopy) images showed that the TiO2 nanoparticles were modified with nano copper. The as-synthesized photocatalyst was found to exhibit markedly enhanced photocatalytic inactivation of E. coli under visible light irradiation compared with pure TiO2, especially in the case of the 10% Cu/Ti3+-TiO2 sample. The photodisinfection effect of the 10% Cu/Ti3+-TiO2 sample was further confirmed using five agricultural pathogenic fungal spores. The photocatalytic inactivation effect against F. graminearum and Botryosphaeria dothidea spores was certified by fluorescent staining of CFDA-AM (the acetoxymethyl ester of the esterase substrate 5-carboxyfluorescein diacetate)/PI (Propidium Iodide). In addition, fluorescent staining by H2DCFDA demonstrated that the intracellular ROS (reactive oxygen species) of the F. graminearum macroconidia was increased after treatment by the photocatalysis.