Hybrid tio2 supraparticles for visible-light photocatalytic disinfection
Porous titanium dioxide and graphene oxide hybrid supraparticles designed for scalable, water-based disinfection of bacteria and viruses under visible light. Leverages directed colloidal assembly to produce stable, surface-applicable particles with tunable porosity for enhanced photocatalytic performance.
Overview
This solution offers porous hybrid supraparticles composed of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and graphene oxide (GO) engineered for photocatalytic disinfection under visible light. Conventional TiO2 photocatalysts are highly effective under UV irradiation but require UV sources, limiting practical deployment. By hybridizing TiO2 with GO, the photocatalytic activity extends into the visible light range, enabling the use of safer and more energy-efficient light sources. The supraparticles are fabricated via a scalable directed colloidal assembly process, producing porous structures that can be readily applied to surfaces using aqueous solutions, addressing key limitations of existing TiO2/GO hybrid formats.
Technical specifications
Core technology:
- Composition: Hybrid of TiO2 nanoparticles and graphene oxide (GO) assembled into porous supraparticles
- Fabrication method: Directed colloidal assembly at a moving air-water interface, a scalable and aqueous-phase process
- Tunable porosity: Pore size engineered to maximize interactions with bacteria and viruses
- Photocatalytic mechanism: Visible-light-activated disinfection leveraging TiO2/GO hybrid photoactivity
- Form factor: Aqueous-solution-stable particles suitable for surface application
- Material advantages: TiO2 is non-toxic, long-term stable, and low cost; GO extends light absorption into the visible spectrum
Key benefits:
- Visible-light activation eliminates dependence on UV sources
- Scalable aqueous-phase fabrication suitable for industrial production
- Stable in aqueous solutions for easy handling and application
- Tunable pore architecture for optimized pathogen interaction
Technology readiness level
The underlying directed colloidal assembly method has been validated in prior published work for fabricating porous, aqueous-stable supraparticles from various nanoparticle types, including calcium phosphate and silicon. The TiO2/GO hybrid system is at an early research stage. The planned 6-month development roadmap includes surfactant screening to modulate nanoparticle interactions, optimization of assembly conditions (temperature, interface speed, time), and testing of supraparticle stability, photocatalytic activity, and disinfection efficacy against E. coli under visible light. Subsequent phases will focus on process scale-up and expanded pathogen testing across additional bacteria and viruses.
About Kansas State University
Kansas State University is a comprehensive public land‑grant research university with multiple campuses and a strong applied mission. Industry partners tap a statewide extension network that connects companies to field sites, talent, and rapid outreach; campus pilot plants and analytical services enable bench‑to‑pilot scale validation, while co‑located high‑containment facilities support regulated studies. The Olathe campus in the Kansas City metro serves as an industry‑engagement hub with workforce pipelines, collaborative labs, and proximity to the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from agencies such as NSF, NIH, USDA, and DOE, alongside state and corporate sponsors, and a dedicated technology transfer office streamlines IP, sponsored research, and startup formation.
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