Hospital acquired infections caused by the gram-positive bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus have been shown to exact a significant economic and human cost on the medical system.  Our research examines the use of semiconductor photocatalysts to reduce the spread of potentially pathogenic organisms in the environment.  The work described in this poster is focused on a CuO/Bi2O3 composite system because of its activity under visible light irradiation and ability to rapidly degrade the model organic pollutant methyl orange via generation of the potentially cytotoxic hydroxyl radical (�OH). The CuO/Bi2O3 composite materials demonstrated remarkable antimicrobial activity against S. aureus under visible light irradiation on semi-porous surfaces and in solution.

Antimicrobial activity of nanostructured bismuth oxide-based composite photocatalysts

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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