Increasing Ag Content Research Articles

Hybrid Nanofibrous Membranes as a Promising Functional Layer for Personal Protection Equipment: Manufacturing and Antiviral/Antibacterial Assessments.

In this research work, nanofibrous hybrids are manufactured, characterized, and assessed as active antiviral and antibacterial membranes. In more detail, both polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nanofibrous (NF) membranes and their composites with embedded silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are manufactured by an electrospinning process. Their morphological structures have been investigated by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) which revealed a homogenous distribution and almost beads-free fibers in all manufactured samples. Characterization with spectroscopic tools has been performed and proved the successful manufacturing of Ag-incorporated PVA and TPU hybrid nanofibers. The crystalline phase of the nanofibers has been determined using an X-ray diffractometer (XRD) whose patterns showed their crystalline nature at an angle value (2θ) of less than 20°. Subsequent screening of both antiviral and antibacterial potential activities of developed nanohybrid membranes has been explored against different viruses, including SARS-Cov-2 and some bacterial strains. As a novel approach, the current work highlights potential effects of several polymeric hybrids on antiviral and antibacterial activities particularly against SARS-Cov-2. Moreover, two types of polymers have been tested and compared; PVA of excellent biodegradable and hydrophilic properties, and TPU of excellent mechanical, super elasticity, hydrophobicity, and durability properties. Such extreme polymers can serve a wide range of applications such as PPE, filtration, wound healing, etc. Consequently, assessment of their antiviral/antibacterial activities, as host matrices for Ag NPs, is needed for different medical applications. Our results showed that TPU-Ag was more effective than PVA-Ag as HIV-1 antiviral nanohybrid as well as in deactivating spike proteins of SARS-Cov-2. Both TPU-Ag and PVA-Ag nanofibrous membranes were found to have superior antimicrobial performance by increasing Ag concentration from 2 to 4 wt.%. Additionally, the developed membranes showed acceptable physical and mechanical properties along with both antiviral and antibacterial activities, which can enable them to be used as a promising functional layer in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as (surgical gowns, gloves, overshoes, hair caps, etc.). Therefore, the developed functional membranes can support the decrease of both coronavirus spread and bacterial contamination, particularly among healthcare professionals within their workplace settings.

Effect of silver content on the microstructure, thermal stability and mechanical properties of CrNx/Ag nanocomposite films

CrNx/Ag nanocomposite films with varying Ag content were prepared by reactive magnetron sputtering under a constant Ar/N2 stream. The films were annealed between 500 – 800 °C in the air. The microstructure and elemental composition of films were studied by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The mechanical properties were characterized with respect to nano-hardness and high-temperature tribology. The results reveal that the incorporation and concentration of Ag influence the morphology and microstructure of films. The microstructure of films evolves by annealing, and the films with higher Ag concentration exhibit more severe structure evolution. Annealing at 650 °C results in the sublimation of Ag, and the oxide emerges on the film surface. Annealing at 800 °C reveals that the film with 6.2 at.% Ag exhibits superior structural stability, while the one with 20.2 at.% Ag deteriorates. The hardness of films decreases with the increasing Ag concentration and heating temperature. Films with 12.6 at.% Ag and above possess solid lubrication during the sliding at 350–650 °C. Both the friction coefficient and wear resistance are found dependent on the Ag concentration and sliding temperature.

Physicochemical, antibacterial and biocompatibility assessments of silver incorporated nano-hydroxyapatite synthesized using a novel microwave-assisted wet precipitation technique

This current work highlights the synthesis of hydroxyapatite incorporated with silver (Ag-HA) bioceramic material using microwave-assisted wet precipitation method for the first time. This method is relatively convenient and cost effective to produce Ag-HA composite. Apart from physicochemical characterization, antibacterial and biocompatibility analyses are also crucial to validate the bioceramics prior to biomedical applications. Ag-HA nanoparticles were prepared with different Ag concentrations (HA, 3Ag-HA, 6Ag-HA and 9Ag-HA) and its physicochemical characterization was performed using XRD, FTIR, XPS, FESEM, HR-TEM, BET and surface wettability. The antibacterial activity of the nanoparticles was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mitis. The biocompatibility analysis was assessed based on the cell attachment and viability/proliferation of the human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stromal cells (hBMSCs). The elemental and functional group analyses confirmed the presence of Ag and HA in nanoparticles. The crystallinity degree of the Ag-HA decreased while the hydrophilicity increased with increasing Ag concentration. Ag-HA disks indicated a significant zone of inhibition to S. aureus (3Ag-HA: 14.29 ± 0.12 mm; 6Ag-HA: 14.84 ± 0.36 mm, 9Ag-HA: 15.12 ± 0.10 mm, p<0.01) and S. mitis (3Ag-HA: 13.59 ± 0.44 mm; 6Ag-HA: 14.23 ± 0.42 mm, 9Ag-HA: 14.75 ± 0.45 mm, p<0.01) when compared with HA. Biocompatibility tests demonstrated an excellent cell attachment and significant viability/proliferation of hBMSCs on day 7 (p<0.01) for 3Ag-HA disk when compared to day 1 or 3, however the observed result was comparable to HA. This study showed that microwave-assisted wet precipitation method could produce a superior Ag-HA composite for biomedical applications.

Silver incorporated α-MoO3 nanoplates to nanorods: Exploring the effects of doping on structural, morphological and optical properties

In this study, pristine stable orthorhombic molybdenum trioxide (α-MoO3) and different concentrations (1, 2, and 3 wt.%) of Ag-doped α-MoO3 were successfully synthesized using a low-temperature facile hydrothermal method. After that, the as-synthesized samples were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and UV–vis spectroscopy. XRD analysis confirmed that pristine and doped samples of MoO3 have stable orthorhombic structures. In addition, crystallite sizes were estimated from XRD peak broadening using both Scherrer and Williamson-Hall methods. Interestingly, the rise of Ag contents has a significant impact on the surface morphology of α-MoO3 and it is seen from FESEM images that pristine α-MoO3 was nanoplates shape and then subsequently got agglomerated to form long nanorods shape after increasing Ag concentration. EDX study confirmed the Ag incorporation. The FTIR affirmed the presence of chemical bonding and stability of orthorhombic phase. Finally, the optical band gap was estimated from reflectance data of UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and obtained optical bang gap are lying in between 2.63–2.79 eV which indicates the gradual improvement of crystallinity.

High Si multilayered TiSiN/TiN(Ag) films with superior oxidation resistance

Abstract In this work, the effect of Ag content on the morphology, structure, mechanical properties, thermal stability, and oxidation resistance of multilayered TiSiN/TiN(Ag) films, with Si concentration in the range of 6.3–7.0 at.%, is investigated. The coatings are deposited by DC reactive magnetron sputtering, with increasing Ag content from 0 to 13.9 at.%. All coatings exhibit a face-centered cubic structure (f.c.c NaCl type) and the Ag diffraction peaks progressively increase with increasing Ag content. The hardness and the reduced elastic modulus of the as-deposited films decrease with increasing Ag; these mechanical properties are higher after annealing at 800 °C in protective atmosphere due to the improvement of the crystallinity of the films. The multilayered architecture of the coatings promotes a good barrier against Ag diffusion towards the surface in protective atmosphere. Ag addition does not influence the onset point of oxidation of the films, but it degrades the oxidation resistance due to the Ag diffusion during the oxidation process, which promotes extra paths for ions diffusion.

AgSbS2-xSex thin films: Structure, composition, morphology and photodetection properties

Photodetectors using silver antimony seleno-sulfide (AgSbS2-xSex) thin films were fabricated and their photo sensing properties in the visible range were evaluated. The thin films were synthesized by combining chemical bath deposition and thermal evaporation techniques. The Sb2S3 thin films were deposited using chemical bath deposition followed by thermal evaporation of silver, varying the thickness from 10 to 80 nm proceeded by selenization via dipping in Na2SeSO3. The thin films were fabricated as glass/Sb2S3/Ag/Se layers with different silver thickness heated at 350 °C for 30 min. X-ray diffraction results showed the cubic structure of AgSbS2-xSex films. Elemental analysis, chemical composition and morphological studies were done using various techniques. The optical absorption in the UV–vis-NIR region spectra of the films with varying Ag content illustrated a wide spectral range for photodetector studies. The bandgap values calculated using Tauc plot method indicated within 1.53–1.75 eV, suitable for photodetector application. The current-voltage studies in the dark and illumination revealed that all the samples were photosensitive in the visible region. Methodical analysis of photoresponse was done using LEDs of various wavelengths at bias voltage of 0.5 and 1 V. All the samples showed a stable and good cyclic photoresponse behavior in the wavelength region between 395–740 nm. Further, the extensive photodetector application of the material was demonstrated by measuring the photoresponse using UV–vis LEDs and different laser power densities. The sensitivity and responsivity factors were calculated. With increase in Ag content, the conductivity of the films was increased and so the photocurrent response. This work asserts the application of AgSbS2-xSex thin films as a photodetector which has been explored till date for its photovoltaic properties only.

Silver Loading Tin Oxide Nanostructure for Gas Sensing Application

In the present work, Ag loading SnO2 nanoparticles were synthesized using simple hydrothermal method with different Ag weight percentage concentrations (2, 4, and 6) wt%. The structural and morphological properties of the prepared samples were characterized and analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and X-ray diffraction. The XRD analysis showed a tetragonal rutile phase of SnO2 with high crystalline, and the grain size was observed to decrease with the increase of Ag concentration. FE-SEM images depict the formation of spherically shaped and small-sized nanoparticles with average diameter of 69–77 nm and its decrease to 24 nm after doping with Ag. The gas sensing result showed maximum sensitivity to NO2 gas for the sample with 6 wt% Ag concentration at operating temperature 100 °C and NO2 gas concentration 50 ppm.

Room temperature d0 ferromagnetism, zero dielectric loss and ac-conductivity enhancement in p-type Ag-doped SnO2 compounds

d0 Ferromagnetic oxide materials have emerged as a promising material for possible application in spintronics. The recent theoretical calculation has predicted d0 ferromagnetism in Ag-doped SnO2 compounds. In this work, we have undertaken an investigation into structural, micro-structural, optical, magnetic, and electrical properties of Ag doped SnO2 compounds. Crystal structure study by the XRD pattern analysis confirms polycrystalline rutile phase with tetragonal structure. The SEM micrographs reveal the formation of uniform spherical nanoparticle morphology. The optical property study by UV/VIS spectrophotometer indicates the band-gap narrowing. A p-type conductivity was observed by Hall effect measurement and the hole concentration was found to increase with the increase in Ag doping. Ferromagnetism with Curie temperature ranging from 304 to 359 K is observed in all Ag-doped compounds, along-with a coercivity value of 240–1310 Oe, whereas un-doped SnO2 exhibited diamagnetism. The magnitude of dielectric constant and ac conductivity was observed to enhance with an increase in Ag concentration, which implies that the charge carriers' hopping is responsible for this transport. The observed ferromagnetism can be ascribed to a p–d hybridization between O and Ag ions.

Low-frequency Raman signature of Ag-intercalated few-layer MoS2

Density functional theory based calculations and experimental analysis on a limited number of real samples are performed to study how the presence of silver intercalated in the van der Waals gap of few-layer MoS2 affects the low-frequency Raman active modes of this material. Silver is found to predominantly affect the breathing-like and shear-like vibrational modes of MoS2. These modes correspond to quasi-rigid movements of each individual layer with a restoring force (and, in turn, frequency) that is determined by modulations in the weak interlayer interactions. Noticeable red-shifts with increasing Ag concentration are found for all low-frequency modes. This finding indicates the potential for low-frequency vibrations as useful gauges for practical determination of silver concentration using low-frequency Raman spectroscopy. This work also describes a semi-classical linear chain model that allows to extrapolate results to a large number of layers. Further, first-principles calculations show how Raman spectroscopy can be used to characterize the quality of the two-dimensional interface between MoS2 and a silver substrate.

Influence of the Silver Content on Mechanical Properties of Ti-Cu-Ag Thin Films.

In this work, the ternary titanium, copper, and silver (Ti-Cu-Ag) system is investigated as a potential candidate for the production of mechanically robust biomedical thin films. The coatings are produced by physical vapor deposition—magnetron sputtering (MS-PVD). The composite thin films are deposited on a silicon (100) substrate. The ratio between Ti and Cu was approximately kept one, with the variation of the Ag content between 10 and 35 at.%, while the power on the targets is changed during each deposition to get the desired Ag content. Thin film characterization is performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), nanoindentation (modulus and hardness), to quantitatively evaluate the scratch adhesion, and atomic force microscopy to determine the surface topography. The residual stresses are measured by focused ion beam and digital image correlation method (FIB-DIC). The produced Ti-Cu-Ag thin films appear to be smooth, uniformly thick, and exhibit amorphous structure for the Ag contents lower than 25 at.%, with a transition to partially crystalline structure for higher Ag concentrations. The Ti-Cu control film shows higher values of 124.5 GPa and 7.85 GPa for modulus and hardness, respectively. There is a clear trend of continuous decrease in the modulus and hardness with the increase of Ag content, as lowest value of 105.5 GPa and 6 GPa for 35 at.% Ag containing thin films. In particular, a transition from the compressive (−36.5 MPa) to tensile residual stresses between 229 MPa and 288 MPa are observed with an increasing Ag content. The obtained results suggest that the Ag concentration should not exceed 25 at.%, in order to avoid an excessive reduction of the modulus and hardness with maintaining (at the same time) the potential for an increase of the antibacterial properties. In summary, Ti-Cu-Ag thin films shows characteristic mechanical properties that can be used to improve the properties of biomedical implants such as Ti-alloys and stainless steel.

Fabrication and transport properties of ternary thermoelectric composites 0.7 Ca3Co3.9Cu0.1O9/0.3 Bi2Ca2Co1.9Cu0.1Oy/x Ag

Ag inclusions were introduced into 0.7 Ca3Co3.9Cu0.1O9/0.3 Bi2Ca2Co1.9Cu0.1Oy composites. Characteristic diffraction peak (111) of Ag is detected. Ag inclusions are with irregular particle shape, and the largest particle is about 10 μm. As Ag content (≤ 9 wt%) increases, the electrical resistivity reduces; meanwhile, transformation from semiconductor transport to metallic transport happens. With the rise of Ag content, the Seebeck coefficient reduces in the temperature range 373 K to 773 K apparently. However, its divergence among samples gradually becomes narrow above 773 K. The highest ZT of composites reaches 0.29 at 973 K.

Influence of silver doping on physical properties of sprayed In2S3 films for solar cells application

A set of silver-doped indium sulphide (In2S3:Ag) thin films were deposited by spray pyrolysis technique, at 350 °C, to analyze the effects of the Ag doping on the physical properties of the films. Within the limits of the analyzed dopant concentration, X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed the polycrystalline nature of the films, crystalizing in the β-In2S3 cubic phase, regardless the level of doping. Both XRD and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the absence of secondary phases. Optical absorption spectra evidenced that the films are opaque to ultraviolet radiation, but transparent in visible and near infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. According to absorption and extinction coefficients variations, the films are smooth and homogeneous. The forbidden bandgap (Eg) increases with increasing Ag concentration. Photoluminescence measurements reveal that the films exhibit seven emissions related to In2S3 defects. The films are semiconductor and the transport phenomena are assisted via small polaron hopping. The photovoltaic effect in Ag/In2S3(n)/Si(p)/Ag is confirmed by I–V characterization in dark and under illumination.

Microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion behavior of quaternary Mg−1Zn−0.2Ca−xAg alloy wires applied as degradable anastomotic nails

The microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion behavior of quaternary degradable Mg−1Zn− 0.2Ca−xAg (x=1, 2, 4 wt.%) alloy wires, intended as anastomotic nails, were investigated. It was found that these Ag-containing alloy wires mainly consist of Mg matrix and Ag17Mg54 phase, characterized by SEM, EDS, XRD and TEM. Tensile and knotting tests results demonstrate the superior mechanical properties of these alloy wires. Especially, Mg−1Zn−0.2Ca−4Ag alloy exhibits the highest mechanical properties, i.e. an ultimate tensile strength of 334 MPa and an elongation of 8.6%. Moreover, with increasing Ag content, the corrosion rates of these alloy wires remarkably increase due to the formation of more micro-galvanic coupling between Mg matrix and Ag17Mg54 phase, shown by mass loss and scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy (SKPFM) results. The present alloy can be completely degraded within 28 d, satisfying the property requirements of anastomotic nails.

Синтез и исследование структуры и свойств фотоактивных ZnO-SnO_2-Ag(AgCl) наноматериалов для медицины и экологических приложений

Photoactive ZnO-SnO2-Ag(AgCl) nanomaterials have been prepared by polymer-salt method. Prepared materials able to generate singlet oxygen under UV and blue light irradiation. Materials structure and properties have been studied by optical and luminescence spectroscopy, XRD and SEM analysis. It was found that the structure of ZnO-SnO2-Ag(AgCl) materials consists of hexagonal ZnO, tetragonal SnO2, Ag and AgCl crystals having size 50÷60 nm. Obtained materials able to generate chemically active singlet oxygen under UV irradiation and have high bactericidal properties against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The increase of Ag content enhances the bactericidal properties of prepared materials.

Correlation Between Structure and Mechanical Properties of Amorphous Cu–Ag Alloys

Using a molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and an embedded atom method (EAM), this article aims to study the structural properties of five Cu‐ and Ag‐based metallic glasses (MGs) with different compositions (Cu75Ag25, Cu50Ag50, Ag75Cu25, Cu‐monatomic, and Ag‐monatomic MGs) to shed light on the effect of composition on MGs’ properties. According to the radial distribution function (RDF) analysis, it is revealed that Ag atoms promote the glass forming ability (GFA) of the samples. Furthermore, increasing Ag content is found to favor the formation of face‐centered cubic (fcc) clusters and reduce the atomic fraction of icosahedral clusters, and this seems normal, because the distorted icosahedra are just an intermediate state between the icosahedra structure and the fcc structure as mentioned in the literature. Moreover, it is shown that Ag atoms tend to be at the center space of clusters with higher coordination numbers. It is also found that the obtained microstructure of the MGs, especially the full icosahedra, influences their mechanical response toward uniaxial tensile loading, as it enhances their strength by resisting to shear strain and reducing their plasticity, which encourages the accumulation of shear strain in shear bands.

CHARACTERIZATION OF SILVER CONTENT UPON PROPERTIES OF NANOSTRUCTURED NICKEL OXIDE THIN FILMS

The influence of two silver contents (2% and 4%) on NiO films were studied in terms of structural and optical properties. Ag doped NiO films were grown on glass and n-type silicon substrates heated at 400C by chemical pyrolysis method. Optical transmission measurements showed up to 60% transparency in the visible area for undoped NiO and decreased with increasing Ag content. X-ray diffraction assures the existence of epitaxial growth with the c-axis. Average particle size, surface roughness and energy gap were decreased also. Rectifying characteristics of junctions deposited films on n-type silicon has been analyzed. Transparent conductive films showed excellent properties to be adopted for solar cells and optical sensors.

Synthesis of Fe3O4/Ag nanohybrid ferrofluids and their applications as antimicrobial and antifibrotic agents

To date, the search for creating stable ferrofluids with excellent properties for biomedical application is one of the challenging scientific and practical investigations. In this study, novel Fe3O4/Ag nanohybrid ferrofluids from iron sand were synthesized using a double-layer method. The Fe3O4/Ag nanocomposites exhibited stable crystallite sizes of 11.8 12.1 nm and 36.8–37.2 nm for Fe3O4 and Ag, respectively. The lattice parameters of the spinel structure Fe3O4 and face-centered cubic Ag were respectively 8.344 Å and 4.091 Å. With increasing Ag amount, the crystallite phase of Ag in the nanocomposites increased from 40.2% to 77.2%. The XPS results confirmed that Fe3O4/Ag nanocomposites were successfully prepared, where Fe3O4 mixed well with Ag via strong ionic bonding. The FTIR results confirmed the presence of Fe3O4/Ag, oleic acid, and dimethyl sulfoxide as the filler, first layer, and second layer, respectively. The as-prepared ferrofluids exhibited superparamagnetic behavior, where the saturation magnetization decreased with increasing Ag content. The Fe3O4/Ag nanohybrid ferrofluids exhibited excellent antimicrobial performance against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. More importantly, the Fe3O4/Ag nanohybrid ferrofluids decreased the progression of liver fibrosis-related inflammation and fibrogenic activity on hepatic stellate cells.

Understanding composition-dependent catalytic performance of PdAg for the hydrogenation of 1,3-butadiene to 1-butene

The composition-dependent adsorption and catalytic properties of PdAg bimetallic surfaces for the partial hydrogenation of 1,3-butadiene to 1-butene were studied by density functional theory. With the increase of Ag content, the activity and selectivity for the partial hydrogenation of 1,3-butadiene to 1-butene were enhanced with the decrease in binding strength of adsorbates. The increase of surface Ag content in PdAg catalysts can thus enhance the catalytic performance of the hydrogenation of 1,3-butadiene.

Influence of silver doping on the structure, optical and photocatalytic properties of Ag-doped BaTiO3 ceramics

In this paper, an investigation on microstructure, optical, dielectric, photocatalytic and electrochemical properties of monodispersed Ag-doped BaTiO3 nanosized particles modified with different contents of silver (1, 3, 5 mol %) prepared by viable sol-gel technique has been carried out. The obtained samples exhibit tetragonal phase as confirmed by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectra. Using XRD data, the crystallite size of undoped and Ag-doped BaTiO3 nanoparticles (NPs) was found to be in the range of 46–54 nm, and have interplanar spacing of 0.283 nm as confirmed by HRTEM images. The characteristic peaks occurred at 309, 511 and 717 cm−1 in Raman spectra predicted the formation of tetragonal phase of barium titanate. The calculated band gap energy of BaTiO3 NPs was reduced from 3.87 to 3.47 eV by incorporating the silver ions (5% Ag). Intensity of photoluminescent peaks decrease with increasing Ag content indicating that recombination of electrons-holes was effectively restrained. Dielectric permittivity as well as loss of prepared nanosized particles have been decreased sharply in low frequency region and remained almost constant with low value in high frequency region. Photo-assisted-catalytic property of Ag-doped BaTiO3 NPs towards degradation of hazardous rhodamine B (RhB) dye under visible irradiation (λ ≥ 400 nm) was thoroughly investigated, and a remarkable photocatalytic activity of Ag (5%)-doped BaTiO3 NPs was observed as 79%. On this account, it is promoted as an excellent nanophotocatalyst for the degradation of organic pollutants. C–V analysis depicted that the diffusion coefficient of BaTiO3 NPs increases considerably with Ag incorporation, which is favourable for large–scale energy storage applications. BET analysis supported the claim of presently prepared materials to be an efficient photocatalyst as well as a potential material for efficient energy storage devices.

The Photocatalytic and Antibacterial Performance of Nitrogen-Doped TiO2: Surface-Structure Dependence and Silver-Deposition Effect.

Catalysts for visible-light-driven oxidative cleaning processes and antibacterial applications (also in the dark) were developed. In order to extend the photoactivity of titanium dioxide into the visible region, nitrogen-doped TiO2 catalysts with hollow and non-hollow structures were synthesized by co-precipitation (NT-A) and sol–gel (NT-U) methods, respectively. To increase their photocatalytic and antibacterial efficiencies, various amounts of silver were successfully loaded on the surfaces of these catalysts by using a facile photo-deposition technique. Their physical and chemical properties were evaluated by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (TEM–EDS), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). The photocatalytic performances of the synthesized catalysts were examined in coumarin and 1,4-hydroquinone solutions. The results showed that the hollow structure of NT-A played an important role in obtaining high specific surface area and appreciable photoactivity. In addition, Ag-loading on the surface of non-hollow structured NT-U could double the photocatalytic performance with an optimum Ag concentration of 10−6 mol g−1, while a slight but monotonous decrease was caused in this respect for the hollow surface of NTA upon increasing Ag concentration. Comparing the catalysts with different structures regarding the photocatalytic performance, silverized non-hollow NT-U proved competitive with the hollow NT-A catalyst without Ag-loading for efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic oxidative degradations. The former one, due to the silver nanoparticles on the catalyst surface, displayed an appreciable antibacterial activity, which was comparable to that of a reference material practically applied for disinfection in polymer coatings.