Abstract
Ultrafine titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanowires were synthesised using a hydrothermal method with different volumes of ethylene glycol (EG) and annealing temperatures. It shows that sodium titanate nanowires synthesised using 5 and 10 ml EG, which annealed at 400°C produced TiO2 nanowires that correspond to a photochemically active phase, which is anatase. The influences of annealing temperatures (400-600°C) on the morphological arrangement of TiO2 nanowires were evident in the field emission scanning electron microscopy. The annealing temperature of 500°C led to agglomeration, which formed a mixture of TiO2 nanoparticles and nanowires. High thermal stability of TiO2 nanowires revealed by thermogravimetric analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectrum showed the presence of the Ti-O-Ti vibrations as evidenced due to TiO2 lattices. An antibacterial study using TiO2 nanowires toward Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae showed large zones of inhibition that indicated susceptibility of the microbe toward TiO2. Growth kinetic analysis shows that addition of TiO2 has reduced optical density (OD) suggesting an inhibition of the growth of bacteria. These results indicate TiO2 nanowires can be effectively used as an antimicrobial agent against gram-bacteria. The TiO2 nanowires could be exploited in the medical, packaging and detergent formulation industries and wastewater treatment.