BiVO4 Thin Films Design via Magnetron Sputtering for Water Treatment: Antimicrobial Activity, Photocatalytic Efficiency, and Toxicity Assessment

Viana, GCC, Ratova, M, Dimopoulou, AE ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-9371-8076, Redfern, J ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0958-683X, O'Dowd, K ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1025-0307, Kelly, PJ ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1008-4941, Pillai, SC and Amorim, CC ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6132-0866 (2025) BiVO4 Thin Films Design via Magnetron Sputtering for Water Treatment: Antimicrobial Activity, Photocatalytic Efficiency, and Toxicity Assessment. Chemical Engineering Science, 312. 121687. ISSN 0009-2509 (In Press)

Accepted Version File not available for download. Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (3MB)

Abstract

This paper investigates the production of bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) thin film for photocatalytic water treatment, verifying the effect of operational parameters for BiVO4 thin film production by magnetron sputtering. The samples were characterized and through photocatalytic assessment, the BiVO4 optimal production condition was determined as being 4 mTorr of pressure, 100 kHz of pulse frequency, 90 % of duty cycle, and 2 h of deposition time. The BiVO4 antimicrobial proprieties were assessed following the British Standard ISO 27447:2009 with E. coli. Antimicrobial activity was observed under visible light, resulting in values under the detection limit (<LD) within 24 h. The material showed activity in the dark, achieving values < LD within 48 h. According to ISO 10993–5:2009, different cytotoxicity levels in humane intestinal cells were observed within the tested concentrations range. This antimicrobial activity is unprecedented, indicating a significant opportunity for advancement in disinfection and offering a safe alternative to conventional water treatment.