Optimisation of the photonic efficiency of TiO₂ decorated on MWCNTs for Methylene blue photodegradation

• Main Authors: Saion, Elias, Shaari, Abdul Halim, Al-Hada, Naif Mohammed, Keiteb, Aysar Sabah, Abdullahi, Nura
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Public Library of Science 2015
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/45687/1/Optimisation%20of%20the%20photonic%20efficiency%20of%20TiO%E2%82%82%20decorated%20on%20MWCNTs%20for%20Methylene%20blue%20photodegradation.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/45687/; https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0125511

MWCNTs/TiO₂ nanocomposite was prepared by oxidising MWCNT in H₂SO₄/HNO₃ then decorating it with TiO₂-p25 nanopowder. The composites were characterised using XRD, TEM, FT-IR PL and UV−vis spectroscopy. The TEM images have shown TiO₂ nanoparticles immobilised onto the sidewalls of the MWCNTs. The UV-vis spectrum confirms that the nanocomposites can significantly absorb more light in the visible regions compared with the commercial TiO₂ (P25). The catalytic activity of these nanocomposites was determined by photooxidation of MB aqueous solution in the presence of visible light. The MWCNTs/TiO₂ (1:3) mass ratio showed maximum degradation efficiency. However, its activity was more favourable in alkaline and a neutral pH than an acidic medium.