Synthesis and evaluation of highly dispersible and efficient photocatalytic TiO2/poly lactic acid nanocomposite films via sol-gel and casting processes

Using titanium teraisopropoxide (TTIP) as the hydrolysis material, titanium dioxide (TiO2) (6.3-11.1 nm) nanoparticles were synthesized via the sol-gel method and reinforced into poly lactic acid (PLA)/TiO2 nanocomposite films by casting. The effect of increasing amounts of TiO2 on the structure and properties of PLA/TiO2 nanocomposite films were evaluated. These results indicated that self-aggregation of TiO2 nanoparticles in PLA films could be avoided via sol-gel and casting processes. The presence of TiO2 significantly improved the tensile strength and thermal stability of films. The PLA/TiO2 (0.6 wt%) film exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity efficiency under UV irradiation and displayed high antibacterial activities with optimal inhibition zones of Staphylococcus aureus, followed by Escherichia dispersibility of TiO2 in films were responsible for those improvements. This study suggests that PLA/TiO2 nanocomposite films could be a promising antimicrobial alternative material to conventional plastic packages.