High-efficiency and environment-friendly sterilization PEVE coatings modified with Bi2WO6/TiO2 composites

TiO2/Bi2WO6 composite photocatalysts prepared by a simple one-step hydrothermal method was added to a fluorocarbon resin coaling to improve the latter's antibacterial property. The sterilization performance of the TiO2/Bi2WO6-PEVE coaling was then detected via a photocatalytic sterilization experiment, a cycle sterilization experiment, and coaling interval sterilization. Results showed that the treated PEVE coaling achieves the best sterilization property under visible light when the mass ratio of TiO2 to Bi2WO6 is 7.5:100. After exposure to strong visible light for 1 h, nearly 80% of the bacteria attached to the coaling surface loses their activity. X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV-visible light spectrophotometry, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analysis, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy were employed to determine the structural and morphological characteristics of the obtained products. The TiO2 nano/microspheres adhered to the surface of the Bi2WO6 nanosheets and increased the latter's specific surface area and electron transmission efficiency. A marine sterilization cycle experiment confirmed that the TiO2/Bi2WO6 composite photocatalyst can be added to PEVE coatings. This work provides a reference for the future application of photocatalytic coatings in marine environments.