Recent advances in photocatalytic coatings for antimicrobial surfaces

This review focuses on how and where both photocatalytic and antibacterial materials are used in various areas. Photocatalytic materials have latterly been introduced as an influential solution for antimicrobial implementations. The development of photocatalysts coated antimicrobial surfaces is gaining importance as the interaction of light with semiconductors during photocatalysis causes bacterial inactivation and degradation of pollutants. In this study, developments in the literature regarding photocatalytic antimicrobial surfaces and their activities have been evaluated in the last five years. It has been revealed that antimicrobial disinfection comprises the attack of reactive oxygen species formed because of the photocatalytic reaction to bacterial cells, the effects of metal ions formed on proteins, and the damage to the cell membranes by the interactions between nanomaterials and bacterial cells. The efficacy and use of semiconductor heterostructure photocatalysts as visible light-operated nanomaterials in antimicrobial applications are discussed. The ultimate aim of this review is to review current research on semiconductor nanomaterials developed in recent years for both photocatalytic degradations of organic pollutants and antimicrobial applications.