The photocatalytic disinfection (PCD) properties of TiO2 have attracted attention in the research communities because the produced reactive oxygen species (ROS) allow destruction of different types of microbes, such as fungi, bacteria, viruses, algae, unicellular organisms, etc. on surfaces, in water, and in air. However, TiO2 requires UV irradiation to produce the ROS, which limits its photoactivity in indoor environments. Surface-modified TiO2 with small Ag and CuO nanoclusters in a core-shell structure exhibits antifungal properties under dark and visible conditions, possibly because of the interaction between Ag-CuO nanoclusters in the fungi membrane and their penetration, and the co-presence of Cu2+ and Ag+ ions. Therefore, a synergetic effect is obtained with co-modification of TiO2 with silver and copper, and the sample Ag@CuO/TiO2 (core-shell structure of Ag-Cu in a ratio of 1:3) exhibits the highest antifungal activity; that is, fungi growth inhibition is observed for Aspergillus melleus and Penicillium chrysogenum. Moreover, significant inhibitions of the sporulation and generation of droplets, possibly containing mycotoxins and sclerotia under dark and visible exposure, are also obtained.
Keywords: Ag@CuO; Aspergillus melleus; Penicillium chrysogenum; TiO2; antifungal properties; photocatalytic disinfection.