Strontium titanate and its flexible polymer composite film: Enhanced biological, mechanical, and photocatalytic performance

Polymeric composite materials are in great demand in biomedical and water treatment applications. This is because they possess distinct characteristics and can fulfill specific biomedical needs, in addition to their ability to degrade dyes. This study successfully synthesized sustainable strontium titanate (STO) particles with an average size of 120 nm using the solid-state method. When these STO particles were mixed into a PCL-based polyurethane matrix, the matrix became hydrophilic with a contact angle of 58.60 degrees and its mechanical strength enhanced by 320%. The morphology and surface roughness of the films were determined using FESEM and AFM techniques. The antibacterial studies of polymeric composites film against E. coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, and S. aureus, showing good zone growth, and showing enhanced swelling properties of 270% for wound healing and biomedical applications. The photocatalytic performance of the STO by degrading Methyl Orange (MO) and Congo Red (CR) under UV light, achieving degradation efficiencies of 92.25% for MO and 62.5% for CR over 150 min. These findings suggest that PU scaffolds and STO are suitable for biological and water treatment in industrial applications.