Synthesis and Characterization of Anatase-coated Multiwall Carbon Nanotube for Improvement of Photocatalytic Activity

Abstract

Sol-gel technique was used to coat multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with anatase titania to increasing the surface area and improve the photocatalytic activity of TiO2. Room temperature ballistic conduct of MWCNT combined with semiconducting behavior of anatase brought about a photocatalytic improvement of ~37 % with respect to the highest methyl orange decolorization flair. For characterization and photocatalytic efficiency determination, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission (FE) scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and ultraviolet visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy were rehearsed. Attachment of anatase nanoparticles onto 30 wt % functionalized CNTs resulted in 99.72% methyl orange decolorization by 160 min irradiation with 8 W ultraviolet lamp. This value was fourfold greater than pure TiO2 nanoparticles and much greater than the values reported in the literature. This improvement was attributed to larger surface area, lower charge recombination and superior crystal structure and stimulated visible-light shifting due to presence of Ti O C bond.