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Hydrothermal synthesis of carbon nanotube–titania composites for enhanced photocatalytic performance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 May 2020

Brian M. Everhart ,
Montgomery Baker-Fales ,
Bailey McAuley ,
Eric Banning ,
Haider Almkhelfe ,
Tyson C. Back  and
Placidus B. Amama Open the ORCID record for Placidus B. Amama [Opens in a new window]
Brian M. Everhart
Affiliation:
Tim Taylor Department of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, USA
Montgomery Baker-Fales
Affiliation:
Tim Taylor Department of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, USA
Bailey McAuley
Affiliation:
Tim Taylor Department of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, USA
Eric Banning
Affiliation:
Tim Taylor Department of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, USA
Haider Almkhelfe
Affiliation:
Tim Taylor Department of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, USA
Tyson C. Back
Affiliation:
Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, WPAFB, Ohio 45433, USA
Placidus B. Amama*
Affiliation:
Tim Taylor Department of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, USA
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: pamama@ksu.edu
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Abstract

Nanosized, well-dispersed titania particles were synthesized via a hydrothermal method using multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as structural modifiers during the nucleation process to decrease aggregation. Synthesized TiO2/MWCNT composites containing different amounts of MWCNTs were characterized using N2 physisorption, XRD, spectroscopic techniques (Raman, UV-visible, and X-ray photoelectron), and electron microscopy to illuminate the morphology, crystal structure, and surface chemistry of the composites. Photocatalytic performance was evaluated by measuring the degradation of acetaldehyde in a batch reactor under UV illumination. Average rate constants decrease in the following order: TiO2/MWCNT-1% > TiO2 > TiO2/MWCNT-5%. Addition of MWCNTs beyond the optimum loading ratio of 1:100 (MWCNT:TiO2) diminishes the effectiveness of the photocatalyst and the synergistic effect between MWCNTs and TiO2. The primary mechanism for photocatalytic activity enhancement in TiO2/MWCNT-1% is thought to be due to increased porosity, hydroxyl enrichment on the surface, and high dispersion of TiO2 particles.

Keywords

TiO2 compositescarbon nanotubeshydrothermal synthesis
Type
Article
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 35 , Issue 11: Focus Section: Heterogeneity in Beyond Graphene 2D Materials , 15 June 2020 , pp. 1451 - 1460
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2020

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