Ag enhanced CuS nanoflower catalyst coupling dielectric barrier discharge plasma for disinfection performance and mechanism

In this study, the hydrothermal method was employed to grow submicron CuS on carbon cloth (CC), and the photoreduction method was used to grow Ag nanoparticles on the CuS submicron flowers, thus forming the Ag/CuS/CC catalytic electrode. The application of Ag/CuS/CC electrode-coupled dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma in the disinfection of pathogenic bacteria in water was studied. The Ag/CuS/CC electrode exhibits strong antibacterial activity, and under an external voltage of 30 V, the degradation efficiency of Bacillus subtilis reaches 99.99% within 15 min without regeneration. After five cycles, the inactivation rate of Bacillus subtilis reached 99.99% within 25 min. The practical applicability of the Ag/CuS/CC-coupled DBD system for treating actual wastewater was evaluated, and the changes in biological toxicity were investigated. The results indicate that the prepared Ag/CuS/CC coupled DBD has great potential for safe disinfection of pathogenic bacteria in water through integrated processes.