This study presents an innovative electrochemical preparation of Ta₂O₅ nanotubes (NTs) decorated with Cu₂O nanoparticles (NPs). The Ta₂O₅/Cu₂O nanotubes led to fast bacterial inactivation under low-intensity solar irradiation. The Cu₂O decoration on Ta₂O₅ nanotubes accelerated the E. coli inactivation kinetics by several orders of magnitude compared to bare Ta₂O₅ nanotubes. Systematic characterization of the surface properties of Ta₂O₅/Cu₂O nanotubes is reported. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM/TEM), XPS-spectroscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were used to understand the structural, morphological and chemical composition of the decorated nanotubes. UV–VIS spectroscopy, photoluminescence (LP), and surface reflectivity further allowed to understand the effect of photons on the nanotube interfaces giving insight into the role of structural defects, oxygen vacancies and Cu₂O decoration. The oxygen vacancies formation and contribution to the bacterial inactivation have been highlighted. The bandgap of Ta₂O₅/Cu₂O decreased upon increasing the Cu₂O addition to Ta₂O₅ NTs. A differentiated mechanism for bacterial inactivation is suggested under low-intensity solar light (50 mW/cm²) for Ta₂O₅ NTs and Ta₂O₅/Cu₂O NTs. The high photocatalytic activity of Ta₂O₅ possibly involved the surface and bulk electron diffusion steps, leading to the generation of the observed surface catalytic sites. A mechanism has been proposed for the antibacterial activity of the prepared nanotubes.

本研究介绍了一种创新的电化学制备 Ta ₂ O ₅纳米管 (NT) 的装饰有 Cu ₂ O 纳米粒子 (NPs)。Ta ₂ O ₅ /Cu ₂ O 纳米管导致细菌在低强度太阳辐射下快速失活。_{与裸Ta 2} O _{5纳米管相比，Ta 2} O ₅纳米管上的Cu 2 O装饰使大肠杆菌失活动力学加速了_几个数量级。_{Ta 2} O ₅ /Cu ₂表面特性的系统表征报道了 O 纳米管。X 射线衍射 (XRD)、扫描和透射电子显微镜 (SEM/TEM)、XPS 光谱和能量色散 X 射线光谱 (EDX) 用于了解装饰纳米管的结构、形态和化学成分。_{UV-VIS 光谱、光致发光 (LP) 和表面反射率进一步有助于了解光子对纳米管界面的影响，从而深入了解结构缺陷、氧空位和 Cu 2} O 装饰的作用。强调了氧空位的形成和对细菌失活的贡献。_{Ta 2} O ₅ /Cu ₂ O的带隙随Ta _{2中 Cu 2} O 添加量的增加而降低O _{5 个}NT。Ta ₂ O ₅ NT 和 Ta ₂ O ₅ /Cu ₂ O NT在低强度太阳光 (50 mW/cm ^{2 ) 下提出了一种不同的细菌灭活机制。}_{Ta 2} O ₅的高光催化活性可能涉及表面和体电子扩散步骤，导致观察到的表面催化位点的产生。已经提出了制备的纳米管的抗菌活性的机制。