UV-curable polyurethane acrylate–Ag/TiO₂ nanocomposites with superior UV light antibacterial activity

Polyurethane acrylate (PUA)–Ag/TiO₂ nanocomposites were synthesized through in situ polymerization. The well-dispersed Ag/TiO₂ nanorods serve as photoinitiator. Meanwhile, the PUA–Ag/TiO₂ nanocomposite films exhibit superior activity toward the photocatalytic degradation of Escherichia coli under UV light. The excellent UV curing and antibacterial activities can be ascribed to the synergistic effect of Ag and TiO₂, which promotes the effective electron/hole separation and thus generates various reactive species. Thin films with these nanoparticles are more hydrophilic after UV illumination. And the antibacterial mechanism of the UV-curable PUA–Ag/TiO₂ nanocomposites was proposed.