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Photocatalytic and antibacterial activity of B/N/Ag co-doped CNT–TiO2 composite films

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Abstract

Thin films of TiO2 and B/N/Ag co-doped carbon nanotube (CNT)–TiO2 (Ag/B/N–CNT–TiO2) composite on top of glass substrates have been successfully prepared by a simple sol–gel drop coating route. The films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV–Vis spectroscopy. XRD patterns of TiO2, CNT–TiO2 and co-doped TiO2 composite films were shown single phase of anatase. The UV–Vis absorption spectra showed absorption edge shifted to visible light region after doping Ag/B/N in TiO2. The photocatalytic properties of Ag/B/N–CNT–TiO2 thin films were evaluated by degradation of methylene blue under visible light irradiation. It has been found that photocatalytic efficiency was significantly improved when TiO2 is subjected to modify by using Ag, B, N and CNT. The highest photocatalytic activity has been shown by 2 %B/5 %N–CNT–TiO2 with 58 % efficiency whereas the efficiency was only 17 % for pure TiO2 film. The experimental photodegradation data were well fitted by zero-order, first-order and modified Freundlich kinetic models. The antimicrobial activities of the prepared composite thin films have also been tested using bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli). The composite Ag–TiO2 and 2 %B/5 %N/2 %Ag–CNT–TiO2 showed higher antimicrobial activity than B/N–CNT–TiO2. All of the thin films have been used in many times for the degradation measurement and antibacterial studies.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the following projects; (i) University grant commission (UGC), Bangladesh, ref. 6(76)…(21)/2009-10/4487; (ii) Research Center, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), ref. 2013–2014; (iii) Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), Bangladesh, ref. 39.009.006.01.00.049.2013–2014/PHY’S-17/331, (iv) The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) (ref. 13-120RG/CHE/AS_I; UNESCO FR: 3240277720) and v) Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR), King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, under grant no. (31-3-1432/HiCi). The Authors, therefore, acknowledge with thanks UGC, SUST, MOST, TWAS and DSR for their technical and financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, 3114, Bangladesh

    Md. Nizam Uddin, Md. Saidul Islam, Md. Motiur Rahaman Mazumder, Md. Asjad Hossain, Md. Elias & Iqbal Ahmed Siddiquey

  2. Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Kumamoto, 860-8555, Japan

    Md. Saidul Islam & Shinya Hayami

  3. Department of Chemistry, Dhaka University, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh

    Md. Abu Bin Hasan Susan

  4. Materials Science Division, Atomic Energy Centre Dhaka, BAEC, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh

    Dilip Kumar Saha

  5. Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science & Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials Research (CEAMR), King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box. 80203, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia

    Mohammed M. Rahman & Abdullah M. Asiri

  6. Institute of Pulsed Power Science (IPPS), Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Chuo-Ku, Kumamoto, 860-8555, Japan

    Shinya Hayami

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  1. Md. Nizam Uddin
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  2. Md. Saidul Islam
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  3. Md. Motiur Rahaman Mazumder
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  4. Md. Asjad Hossain
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  11. Shinya Hayami
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Correspondence to Md. Nizam Uddin or Shinya Hayami.

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Uddin, M.N., Islam, M.S., Mazumder, M.M.R. et al. Photocatalytic and antibacterial activity of B/N/Ag co-doped CNT–TiO2 composite films. J Incl Phenom Macrocycl Chem 82, 229–234 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10847-015-0510-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10847-015-0510-2

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