An Investigation on the Electrochemical Behavior and Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Activity of Nickel Trithiocyanurate Complexes

Novel Semiconductor Cu(C3H3N3S3)3/ZnTiO3/TiO2 for the Photoinactivation of E. coli and S. aureus under Solar Light

The use of semiconductors for bacterial photoinactivation is a promising approach that has attracted great interest in wastewater remediation. The photoinactivator Cu-TTC/ZTO/TO was synthesized by the solvothermal method from the coordination complex Cu(C₃H₃N₃S₃)₃ (Cu-TTC) and the hybrid semiconductor ZnTiO₃/TiO₂ (ZTO/TO). In this study, the effect of photocatalyst composition/concentration as well as radiation intensity on the photoinactivation of the gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and the gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus in aqueous solutions was investigated. The results revealed that 25 mg/mL of photoinactivator, in a Cu-TTC:ZTO/TO molar ratio of 1:2 (w/w%) presents a higher rate of bacterial photoinactivation under simulated solar light (λ = 300-800 nm) in comparison to the individual components. The evidence of this study suggests that the presence of the Cu(C₃H₃N₃S₃)₃ coordination complex in the ZnTiO₃/TiO₂ hybrid semiconductor would contribute to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are essential to initiate the bacterial photoinactivation process. Finally, the results obtained allow us to predict that the Cu-TTC/ZTO/TO photocatalyst could be used for effective bacterial inactivation of E. coli and S. aureus in aqueous systems under simulated solar light.

[Cu(C3H3N3S3)3] Adsorption onto ZnTiO3/TiO2 for Coordination-Complex Sensitized Photochemical Applications

Currently, the design of highly efficient materials for photochemical applications remains a challenge. In this study, an efficient semiconductor was prepared, based on a coordination complex (Cu-TTC) of Cu(I) and trithiocyanuric acid on ZnTiO₃/TiO₂ (ZTO/TO). The Cu-TTC/ZTO/TO composite was prepared by the solvothermal method at room temperature. The structural, optical, and electrochemical characteristics, as well as the photocatalytic performance of the composite, were experimentally and computationally studied. The results show that the Cu-TTC/ZTO/TO composite efficiently extended its photoresponse in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The electrochemistry of the proposed tautomeric architecture (s-Cu-TTC) clearly reveals the presence of metal–ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) and π → π* excitations. The maximum methylene blue (MB) dye photodegradation efficiency of 95% in aqueous solutions was achieved under the illumination of simulated solar light. Finally, computational calculations based on the Density Functional Theory (DFT) method were performed to determine the electronic properties of the s-Cu-TTC tautomeric structure and clarify the adsorption mechanism of this complex on the surface (101) of both ZnTiO₃ and TiO₂ oxides. The results obtained allow us to suggest that the Cu-TTC complex is an effective charge carrier and that the Cu-TTC/ZTO/TO composite can be used efficiently for photochemical applications.