Heat treated anodised titanium surfaces showing enhanced photocatalytic inhibition of microbial fouling

Abstract

Titanium, an otherwise perfect condenser tube material in sea water applications, is challenged by the problem of severe biofouling. Anatase, one of the two commercially important crystalline forms of titanium dioxide, possesses excellent photocatalytic activity (PCA). It has been shown in the earlier studies by the authors that anodisation of titanium produces anatase type of TiO₂ capable of photocatalytic inhibition of microbial adhesion under near UV light illumination. The present study investigates the influence of anodising voltage and anodising time on the photocatalytic inhibition of Pseudomonas sp., a frequent coloniser of natural biofilms formed on titanium surfaces. The effect of heat treatment of anodised surfaces on PCA was also studied. The results showed that heat treatment resulted in a significant enhancement of PCA. The surface oxide was characterised using glancing incidence X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy and the results indicate a marked increase in the cystallinity of the anatase film on the heat treated anodised surfaces. Attempts have also been made to understand the mechanism underlying the photocatalytic inactivation of the bacterial cells on TiO₂ surfaces by studying their growth characteristics.