연구성과 홍보

J. Water Process. Eng. 2025 June;75:107916.

Title : Modulating energy band structure of CsPbBr3@TiO2 composites for enhanced photocatalytic and anti-superbacterial performance

Authors : Chang-Yeon Kima,b, Min-Gi Jeona, Artavazd Kirakosyana, Da-Hye Kimc, Hea-Jong Chungc,d,e, Ji-Hyun Leeb, Ha-Rim Anb, Byoungchul Sonb, Seung Jo Yoob, Sang-Gil Leeb, Ji-In Parkb, Soo Hyeon Kimb, Hyeran Kimb, Sang Moon Leeb, Jihoon Choia*, Hyun Uk Leeb*

Affiliations :

aDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34134, Republic of Korea

bResearch center for Materials Analysis, Korea Basic Science Institute, Daejeon 34133, Republic of Korea

cHonam Regional Center, Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI), Gwangju 61751, Republic of Korea

dCollege of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea

eDepartment of Bio-Analysis Science, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea

DOI: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2025.107916

Abstract :

Oxide-based photocatalysts are widely used for antibacterial and water treatment. However, they are limited by their wide bandgaps, which restrict the activation to specific wavelengths. Efforts are being done to enhance the reactivity, including doping with different elements, combining with other semiconductors, and creating heterogeneous structures. In this study, a composite photocatalyst was developed by forming CsPbBr3@TiO2, a heterostructure using CsPbBr3 quantum dots and TiO2, where the induced intermediate states narrow the bandgap, extending the light absorption range into the visible spectrum. Photocatalytic applications in dye degradation and removal of superbacteria utilize this property.

CsPbBr3@TiO2 composite showed significant degradation efficiency for rhodamine B and Reactive Black 5 under ultraviolet (UV) and visible-light irradiation. While anatase TiO2 nanoparticles showed a degradation efficiency of up to 21.1 % after 1 h of light irradiation, the CsPbBr3@TiO2 composite showed a degradation efficiency of up to 95.3 %, indicating excellent water purification. Furthermore, in an optical density measurement to analyze the antibacterial activity against prominent superbacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Enterococcus faecium, recently been identified as resistant to almost all antibiotics due to drug abuse, the CsPbBr3@TiO2 composite showed a reduction of 84.9 %, while the anatase TiO2 nanoparticles showed a 42.5 % reduction, indicating up to a 2-fold higher antimicrobial activity. These results indicate that the CsPbBr3@TiO2 composites possess outstanding photocatalytic efficiency for environmental applications and suggest an easy and rapid method for the extensive production of highly responsive visible-light photocatalysts for water purification and biomedical applications.