Titanium oxide (TiOx) thin films doped with transition metal ions (Zn/Cu/Mn) as effective antimicrobial coatings. The project authors aimed at the development of a simple and scalable fabrication method for deposition of TiO2 thin films with titania nanoparticles and mesoporous silica decorated with silver nanoparticles which can act as efficient antibacterial coatings both in the dark and natural light. The film can be potentially applied on the surface of walls by a spray containing thin film precursor in alcoholic solution. Titania particles act as a photocatalyst generating reactive radicals which destroy bacterial cells in the presence of water vapor under ambient light, while silver nanoparticles provide a permanent antibacterial effect regardless the intensity of light illumination.
