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Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity of Carbon Nanotube/Titanium Dioxide Nanocomposites

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Abstract

Various multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/titanium dioxide nanocomposites were synthesized using a low-temperature sol–gel method and a simple evaporation and drying process. Various techniques such as X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were used to confirm the structures of the newly synthesized nanocomposites. The photocatalytic activity of the new nanocomposites was investigated by using them as catalysts for the degradation of Bismarck brown R dye. The maximum rate of BBR photodegradation was achieved with a composite with a \(\hbox {MWCNT}/\hbox {TiO}_{2} \) ratio of 0.5% (w/w). The photocatalytic activity of \( \hbox {TiO}_{2} \) was improved in the presence of the new MWCNT nanocomposite. The synthesized nanocomposite shows an obvious red shift compared to \( \hbox {TiO}_{2} \). The band gap of \( \hbox {TiO}_{2} \) was reduced from 3.25 to 2.8 eV in the presence of MWCNTs (0.5 wt%). Evidently, the recombination of photogenerated electron–hole pairs could be retarded in the presence of a MWCNT/\(\hbox {TiO}_{2} \) nanocomposite. Moreover, MWCNTs can control \(\hbox {TiO}_{2} \) particles’ morphology within the MWCNT/\(\hbox {TiO}_{2} \) nanocomposite by acting as a dispersing support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Pharmacy, University of Babylon, P.O. Box 51002, Hilla, Iraq

    Ahmed M. Kamil, Halah T. Mohammed, Asim A. Balakit & Falah H. Hussein

  2. Institut für Technische Chemie, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Callinstrasse 3, 30167, Hannover, Germany

    Detlef W. Bahnemann

  3. Cornea Research Chair, Department of Optometry, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 10219, Riyadh, 11433, Saudi Arabia

    Gamal A. El-Hiti

Authors
  1. Ahmed M. Kamil
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  2. Halah T. Mohammed
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  3. Asim A. Balakit
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  4. Falah H. Hussein
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  5. Detlef W. Bahnemann
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  6. Gamal A. El-Hiti
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Correspondence to Falah H. Hussein or Gamal A. El-Hiti.

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Kamil, A.M., Mohammed, H.T., Balakit, A.A. et al. Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity of Carbon Nanotube/Titanium Dioxide Nanocomposites. Arab J Sci Eng 43, 199–210 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-017-2861-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-017-2861-z

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