Visible Light Active Silver Decorated Iron Titanate/Titanium Dioxide Nanohybrid for Sterilization of Explants Grown by In Vitro Technique

Abstract Visible light (VL) active silver decorated iron titanate/titanium dioxide (Ag‐FeTiO₃/TiO₂) nanohybrids derived from natural ilmenite sand effectively cleanse the exophytic plant pathogens in explants grown by in vitro techniques. VL active nanohybrid is synthesized by acid‐hydrolysis of natural ilmenite, followed by precipitation of the lixivium and decoration with Ag onto FeTiO₃/TiO₂ nanoparticles, and finally calcination under a nitrogen environment to obtain Ag‐FeTiO₃/TiO₂. A morphological study conducted using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirms the formation of Ag‐FeTiO₃/TiO₂. Powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis shows that the nanohybrid primarily consists of anatase, iron titanate (FeTiO₃), Ag₂O, and Ag. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) study suggests the presence of Ag⁰/Ag₂O/Fe₂O₃ composites on the FeTiO₃/TiO₂ particle surface. The optical band gap significantly changes from 3.14 eV (ilmenite) to 2.80 eV after the decoration of FeTiO₃/TiO₂ with Ag. This nanohybrid is utilized as a surface‐sterilizing agent for in vitro establishment of the Dracaena sanderiana Sander ex Mast plant. Findings illustrate Ag‐FeTiO₃/TiO₂ nanohybrid‐based photo‐sterilization leads to the survival of 90% of the microbes’ free cultures while the material can be re‐used due to its photocatalytic behavior. Thus, the newly synthesized nanohybrid can replace harmful sterilization agents used in tissue culture techniques.