Preparation and characterization of nanostructured MWCNT-TiO{sub 2} composite materials for photocatalytic water treatment applications

Journal Article · Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 EDT 2008 · Materials Research Bulletin

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.materresbull.2007.04.032· OSTI ID:21068248

Wendong, Wang ^[1]; Serp, Philippe; Kalck, Philippe ^[2]; Silva, Claudia Gomes ^[1]

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1. Laboratorio de Catalise e Materiais, Departamento de Engenharia Quimica, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n 4200-465 Porto (Portugal)
2. Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination UPR 8241 CNRS, Ecole Nationale Superieure d'Ingenieurs en Arts Chimiques Et Technologiques, 118 Route de Narbonne Toulouse Cedex 31077 (France)

Nanoscale composite materials containing multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and titania were prepared by using a modified sol-gel method. The composites were comprehensively characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm, powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. The analysis revealed the presence of titania crystallites of about 7.5 nm aggregated together with MWCNT in particles of 15-20 nm of diameter. The photoactivity of the prepared materials, under UV or visible irradiation, was tested using the conversion of phenol from model aqueous solutions as probe reaction. A synergy effect on the photocatalytic activities observed for the composite catalysts was discussed in terms of a strong interphase interaction between carbon and TiO{sub 2} phases by comparing the different roles of MWCNT in the composite materials.

• OSTI ID: 21068248
• Journal Information: Materials Research Bulletin, Vol. 43, Issue 4; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.materresbull.2007.04.032; PII: S0025-5408(07)00184-5; Copyright (c) 2007 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0025-5408
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
IRRADIATION
NANOTUBES
PHENOL
PHOTOCATALYSIS
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SOL-GEL PROCESS
THERMAL GRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS
TITANIUM OXIDES
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
WATER TREATMENT
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY