Characterization and Preparation of Pure and silver- doped TiO2 particles by RF Magnetron sputtering for Gas sensing and Antibacterial activity

Authors

  • Mustafa H.hashim Physics Department, College of Education/University Al-Qadisiyah ,Iraq
  • Abdulhussain A. khadayeir Physics Department, College of Education/University Al-Qadisiyah ,Iraq

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71229/cx8cbe45

Keywords:

TiO2 nanoparticles , Ag doping , RF Magnetron Sputtering , Gas Sensing , Klebsiella pneumoniae

Abstract

In this study, pure titanium oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles and silver-doped (TiO2:Ag) nanoparticles were produced by radio-frequency magnetic spraying. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies verified the formation of an anatase phase with metallic silver atoms without changing the base structure, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) demonstrated that the nanoparticles aggregated into porous architectures. The optical absorption is enhanced, and the energy gap is lowered from (3.0 to 2.5) eV by the doping of silver. The TiO₂:Ag sample had the maximum sensitivity (14.6%) in sensing applications at low temperature (200°C), compared to the pure TiO₂ sample, which needed 300°C for its highest sensitivity (21.6%). It signifies higher operating efficiency at reduced energy usage. The antibacterial activity of TiO2:Ag sample against Klebsiella pneumoniae was much greater than that of pure TiO2 due to the synergistic action of Ag and TiO2 in enhancing the generation of reactive oxygen species. The flexible TiO2:Ag nanomaterial may therefore represent an attractive candidate for the development of low-temperature, efficient gas-sensing technologies as well as antimicrobial medical devices.

References

[1] Mekuye, B., & Abera, B. (2023). Nanomaterials: An overview of synthesis, classification, characterization, and applications. Nano select, 4(8), 486-501.‏

[2] Srinivasan, L. V., & Rana, S. S. (2024). A critical review of various synthesis methods of nanoparticles and their applications in biomedical, regenerative medicine, food packaging, and environment. Discover Applied Sciences, 6(7), 371.‏

[3] Chávez-Hernández, J. A., Velarde-Salcedo, A. J., Navarro-Tovar, G., & Gonzalez, C. (2024). Safe nanomaterials: from their use, application, and disposal to regulations. Nanoscale advances, 6(6), 1583-1610.‏

[4] Ahmed, K. A. (2026). Recent Advances in Titanium Dioxide (TiO₂): Properties, Synthesis, and Multifunctional Applications: A Review. Journal of Life Science and Public Health, 2(1), 127-140.‏

[5] Hsu, C. Y., Mahmoud, Z. H., Abdullaev, S., Ali, F. K., Naeem, Y. A., Mizher, R. M., ... & Habibzadeh, S. (2024). Nano titanium oxide (nano-TiO2): A review of synthesis methods, properties, and applications. Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, 9, 100626.‏

[6] Farooq, N., Kallem, P., ur Rehman, Z., Khan, M. I., Gupta, R. K., Tahseen, T., ... & Shanableh, A. (2024). Recent trends of titania (TiO2) based materials: A review on synthetic approaches and potential applications. Journal of King Saud University-Science, 36(6), 103210.‏

[7] Kallem, P., & Khan, M. I. (2024). Recent trends of titania (TiO2) based materials: A review on synthetic approaches and potential applications.‏

[8] Oussalah, C., Brahmi, L., Balouli, A., & Kaouah, F. (2026). Ultrasound-assisted synthesis of Ag/TiO2 nanocomposite for the degradation of bisphenol a under solar irradiation. Reaction Kinetics, Mechanisms and Catalysis, 139(3), 2487-2507.‏

[9] Ramesh, N., Lai, C. W., Johan, M. R. B., Mousavi, S. M., Badruddin, I. A., Kumar, A., ... & Gapsari, F. (2024). Progress in photocatalytic degradation of industrial organic dye by utilising the silver doped titanium dioxide nanocomposite. Heliyon, 10(24).‏

[10] Adochițe, C. Ș., Vițelaru, C., Parau, A. C., Kiss, A. E., Pană, I., Vlădescu, A., ... & Idomir, M. (2022). Synthesis and investigation of antibacterial activity of thin films based on TiO2-Ag and SiO2-Ag with potential applications in medical environment. Nanomaterials, 12(6), 902.‏

[11] Lou, B. S., Chen, W. T., Diyatmika, W., Lu, J. H., Chang, C. T., Chen, P. W., & Lee, J. W. (2022). High power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) for the fabrication of antimicrobial and transparent TiO2 thin films. Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering, 36, 100782.‏

[12] Kumarage, G. W., Hakkoum, H., & Comini, E. (2023). Recent advancements in TiO2 nanostructures: Sustainable synthesis and gas sensing. Nanomaterials, 13(8), 1424.‏

[13] Rathore, C., Yadav, V. K., Gacem, A., AbdelRahim, S. K., Verma, R. K., Chundawat, R. S., ... & Patel, A. (2023). Microbial synthesis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles and their importance in wastewater treatment and antimicrobial activities: a review. Frontiers in microbiology, 14, 1270245.‏

[14] Shang, C., Bu, J., & Song, C. (2022). Preparation, antimicrobial properties under different light sources, mechanisms and applications of TiO2: A review. Materials, 15(17), 5820.‏

[15] Masuda, Y., & Kato, K. (2009). Synthesis and phase transformation of TiO2 nano-crystals in aqueous solutions. Journal of the Ceramic Society of Japan, 117(1363), 373-376.‏

[16] Lanje, A. S., Sharma, S. J., & Pode, R. B. (2010). Synthesis of silver nanoparticles: a safer alternative to conventional antimicrobial and antibacterial agents. J. Chem. Pharm. Res, 2(3), 478-483.‏

[17] Munir, T., Sharif, M., Ali, H., Kashif, M., Sohail, A., Sabir, N., ... & Ahmed, N. (2019). Impact of silver dopant on structural and optical properties of TiO2 nanoparticles. Dig. J. Nanomater. Biostructures, 14, 279-284.‏

[18] Al-Taweel, S. S., & Saud, H. R. (2016). New route for synthesis of pure anatase TiO2 nanoparticles via utrasound-assisted sol-gel method. J. Chem. Pharm. Res, 8(2), 620-626.‏

[19] Çetin, A., Şimşir, M., Tuzemen, E. S., & Özer, A. Structural, Morphological, and Photocatalytic Comparison of TiO₂ Thin Films Deposited by RF Magnetron Sputtering at Room Temperature and 300° C. Cumhuriyet Science Journal, 47(3), 557-565.‏

[20] Mulus, D. A. S., Permana, M. D., Deawati, Y., & Eddy, D. R. (2025). A current review of TiO2 thin films: synthesis and modification effect to the mechanism and photocatalytic activity. Applied Surface Science Advances, 27, 100746.‏

[21] Grayeli, A., Ahmadpourian, A., Jurečka, S., Luna, C., Rezaee, S., & Karimi, M. (2024). Investigating the influence of RF power on the surface morphological and optical properties of sputtered TiO2 thin films. Optical Materials, 157, 116363.‏

[22] Sun, L., Que, Z., Ruan, T., Yuan, Z., Gong, W., Mei, S., ... & Liu, Y. (2024). The synthesis of Ag/TiO2 via the DC magnetron sputtering method and its application in the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange in Na2SO4 Solution. Applied Sciences, 14(10), 4014.‏

[23] Al Amin, S. M., & Kowser, M. A. (2024). Influence of Ag doping on structural, morphological, and optical characteristics of sol-gel spin-coated TiO2 thin films. Heliyon, 10(18).‏

[24] Louhichi, A., Cherni, D., Houas, A., & Lachheb, H. (2026). Silver-doped TiO2 catalysts for efficient methylene blue removal. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Engineering, 21(1), 14.‏

[25] Alaya, Y., Madani, M., Bouguila, N., El Mir, L., Fazio, E., Corsaro, C., & Neri, G. (2024). Conductometric H2S sensors based on TiO2 nanoparticles. Materials, 17(13), 3283.‏

[26] Li, J., Na, E., Liang, X., Liang, Q., Fan, M., Chen, H., ... & Zou, X. (2024). Surface oxygen chemistry of metal oxide semiconductors for gas-sensing applications. Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers, 11(24), 8602-8626.‏

[27] Ying, K., Jia, X., Zhou, J., Pan, X., & Liao, N. (2026). Atomic-scale mechanism of Ag-TiO2 for detecting H2S gas over H2, CH4, CH3OH, C2H6, C2H5OH: A first principles study. Computational and Theoretical Chemistry, 1258, 115721.‏

[28] Lee, U. Y., Kim, M. Y., Lee, K. H., Han, S., Lee, S. Y., Mirzaei, A., ... & Hwang, J. Y. (2025). Surface reaction mechanism and characteristics of 2-dimensional TiO2 and 0-dimensional Ag nanocomposites specialized for H2S gas sensing at room temperature. Sensors and Actuators Reports, 9, 100290.‏

[29] Lazić, V., Nikšić, V., & Nedeljković, J. M. (2025). Application of TiO2 in photocatalytic bacterial inactivation. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(21), 10593.‏

[30] Haji, S. H., Ganjo, A. R., Faraj, T. A., Fatah, M. H., & Smail, S. B. (2024). The enhanced antibacterial and antibiofilm properties of titanium dioxide nanoparticles biosynthesized by multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. BMC microbiology, 24(1), 379.‏

[31] Mercurio, M., Hajareh Haghighi, F., Ubaldi, F., Cerra, S., Astolfi, M. L., Matassa, R., ... & Fratoddi, I. (2024). Ag-decorated titania nanoparticles for antibacterial applications. ACS Applied Nano Materials, 7(17), 21124-21140.‏

[32] Uthiravel, V., Narayanamurthi, K., Raja, V., Anandhabasker, S., & Kuppusamy, K. (2024). Green synthesis and characterization of TiO2 and Ag-doped TiO2 nanoparticles for photocatalytic and antimicrobial applications. Inorganic Chemistry Communications, 170, 113327.‏

[33] Firdausy, A. F., Roza, L., Khan, M. M., & Wafi, A. (2024). Antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activities of photosynthesized Ag@ TiO2 and Ag@ N-TiO2 nanocomposites against clinically isolated multidrug resistance Klebsiella pneumoniae. Chemical Papers, 78(17), 9191-9203.‏

fig 2

Downloads

Published

2026-08-11

Issue

Section

Original Articles

How to Cite

Characterization and Preparation of Pure and silver- doped TiO2 particles by RF Magnetron sputtering for Gas sensing and Antibacterial activity. (2026). Al-Noor Journal of Engineering Management and Computer Science, 2(3), 181-191. https://doi.org/10.71229/cx8cbe45

Similar Articles

21-30 of 38

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.