UV-Curable Polyurethane-Acrylate-Ag/TiO₂ Nanocomposites with Superior UV Light Antibacterial Activity

Polyurethane acrylate (PUA)-Ag/TiO2 nanocomposites were synthesized via in-situ polymerization. The well-dispersed Ag/TiO2 nanorods (NRs) serve as photoinitiator. Meanwhile, the PUA-Ag/TiO2 nanocomposite films exhibit superior activity towards the photocatalytic degradation of Escherichia coli (E. Coli) under UV light. The excellent UV-curing and antibacterial activity can be ascribed to the synergistic effect of Ag and TiO2, which promotes the effective electron/holes separation and thus generates various reactive species. Thin films with these nanoparticles are more hydrophilic after UV illumination. And the antibacterial mechanism of the UV-Curable Polyurethane-Acrylate-Ag/TiO2 Nanocomposites was proposed.