Highly efficient CuO-doped titania nanotube arrays in photocatalysis-electrocoagulation process for bacterial disinfection

This study investigates the efficacy of the photocatalysis-electrocoagulation hybrid process for bacterial disinfection. The photocatalyst used was titania nanotubes array (TiNTA) doped with CuO using the SILAR (Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction) method from the CuCl₂ precursor. The synthesized CuO-TiNTA nanocomposite was confirmed with FESEM/EDX, HRTEM, XRD, and UV–Vis DRS. FESEM and HRTEM confirm the formation of TiNTA, while EDX, SAED, and XRD confirm the presence of anatase TiO₂ and CuO. Adding CuO towards TiNTA decreases the band gap energy of TiNTA, which UV–Vis DRS confirms. CuO-TiNTA had better photocatalytic activity when compared to undoped TiNTA, which increased its antibacterial performance due to the dopant's effect on photocatalyst and dopant antibacterial capability. Comparatively, electrocoagulation had better performance than photocatalysis. However, when combined with photocatalysis, the overall hybrid performance was far superior to other processes used in this study.