TiO{sub 2}/carbon nanotube hybrid nanostructures: Solvothermal synthesis and their visible light photocatalytic activity

Journal Article · Wed Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 2011 · Journal of Solid State Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssc.2011.04.014· OSTI ID:21580095

Lihong, Tian ^[1]; Liqun, Ye ^[1]; Kejian, Deng ^[2]

---

1. College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072 (China)
2. Key Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials Science of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission and Ministry of Education, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan 430074 (China)

MWCNT/TiO{sub 2} hybrid nanostructures were prepared via solvothermal synthesis and sol-gel method with benzyl alcohol as a surfactant. As-prepared hybrid materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results showed that MWCNTs were uniformly decorated with anatase nanocrystals in solvothermal condition, but MWCNTs were embedded in a majority of TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles by sol-gel method. When the weight ratio of MWCNTs to TiO{sub 2} was 20%, MWCNT/TiO{sub 2} hybrid nanostructures prepared by solvothermal synthesis exhibited higher visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity than that prepared by sol-gel method. Post-annealing of MWCNT/TiO{sub 2} nanostructures at 400 deg. C resulted in the formation of the carbonaceous Ti-C bonds on the interface between TiO{sub 2} and MWCNTs, which enhanced the photoabsorbance of the hybrid materials in the visible light region and improved the visible-light degradation efficiency of methylene blue. - Graphical abstract: MWCNT/TiO{sub 2} nanostructures have been prepared by solvothermal method, which exhibited higher visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity than that prepared by sol-gel method. The carbonaceous Ti-C bonds on the interface between TiO{sub 2} and MWCNTs enhanced the photoabsorbance of the hybrid materials in the visible light region. Highlights: > Anatase TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles were anchored on CNTs surface uniformly via solvothermal method {yields} The morphology facilitated the electron transfer between CNTs and TiO{sub 2} {yields} Ti-C bonds extended the absorption of MWCNT/TiO{sub 2} to the whole visible light region. > The hybrid nanostructures showed enhanced visible-light induced photocatalytic activity.

• OSTI ID: 21580095
• Journal Information: Journal of Solid State Chemistry, Vol. 184, Issue 6; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.jssc.2011.04.014; PII: S0022-4596(11)00182-4; Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; ISSN 0022-4596
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ABSORPTION
BENZYL ALCOHOL
CARBON
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRON TRANSFER
HYBRIDIZATION
INTERFACES
MATERIALS
METHYLENE BLUE
NANOTUBES
PARTICLES
PHOTOCATALYSIS
SOL-GEL PROCESS
SURFACES
SYNTHESIS
TITANIUM OXIDES
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
VISIBLE RADIATION
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
ALCOHOLS
AMINES
ANTI-INFECTIVE AGENTS
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
AROMATICS
AZINES
CATALYSIS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
COHERENT SCATTERING
DIFFRACTION
DRUGS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
ELEMENTS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MICROSCOPY
NANOSTRUCTURES
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHENOTHIAZINES
PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
RADIATIONS
SCATTERING
SORPTION
SPECTROSCOPY
TITANIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS