Studying the Crystal Structure, Topography, and Anti-bacterial of a Novel Titania (TiO2 NPs) Prepared by a Sol-gel Manner

Abstract

In this research, titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) were prepared through the sol-gel process at an acidic medium (pH3).TiO₂ nanoparticles were prepared from titanium trichloride (TiCl₃) as a precursor with Ammonium hydroxide (NH₄OH) with 1:3 ratio at 50 °C. The resulting gel was dried at 70 °C to obtain the Nanocrystalline powder. The powder from the drying process was treated thermally at temperatures 500 °C and 700 °C. The crystalline structure, surface morphology, and particle size were studied by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The results showed (anatase) phase of titanium dioxide with the average grain size of 110 nm at 500 °C calcination temperature, and (anatase- rutile) mixed phase of titanium dioxide with the average particle size of 118.1 nm at 700 °C calcination temperature. The anti-bacterial activity of the synthesis specimens was recorded through the Kirby-Bauer disc method (disc devotion method). The results displayed a pretty excellent antibacterial activity of TiO₂ NPs to bacteria strains: Gram positive staphylococcus aureus, gram negative pseudomonas aeruginosa, and "gram negative escherichia coli. The sensitivity of the tested bacteria to TiO₂ NPs depends on the oxidation state of the TiO₂ NPs, particle size, volume, and the density of the unit cell. The small- average particle size of titanium dioxide particles showed high antibacterial activity against bacteria, while the larger- average particle size of titanium dioxide particles showed less antibacterial activity. The novelty of this production is the manufacturing of a novel kind of TiO₂ NPs and achievement its best antibacterial activity.