Effect of Carbon Nanotubes and Carbon Nanotubes/Gold Nanoparticles Composite on the Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 and TiO2‐SiO2. Issue 2 (21st December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chinh, Vu Duc; Hung, Le Xuan; Di Palma, Luca; Hanh, Vu Thi Hong; Vilardi, Giorgio
• Is Part Of: Chemical engineering & technology. Volume 42:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 308
• Page End: 315
• Publication Date: 2018-12-21
• Subjects: Carbon nanotube -- Gold nanoparticle -- Nano‐photocatalysts -- TiO2 -- TiO2‐SiO2; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; Chemical processes -- Periodicals; 660.05
• DOI: 10.1002/ceat.201800265
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0930-7516

Abstract

Abstract: A carbon nanotube (CNT)/gold nanoparticle (NP) nanocomposite was synthesized by simultaneously reducing the Au ions and depositing Au NPs on the surface of a CNT. The functional groups were investigated with Fourier transform infrared spectra. From the Raman spectra, the D‐band and G‐band of the CNT were identified. The deposition of nanometer‐sized Au NPs on the CNT sites was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solutions was studied using various photocatalysts, including TiO2, TiO2 ‐SiO2, CNT/TiO2, CNT/TiO2 ‐SiO2, Au/TiO2, CNT‐Au/TiO2, and CNT‐Au/TiO2 ‐SiO2 composites. CNT addition leads to a synergic effect, improving the photoactivity of the catalysts. A possible physically based mechanism was proposed involving the reduction of electron‐hole recombination and fast electron‐transfer possibility. Abstract : The peculiar properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and Au were combined in order to improve the photocatalytic efficiency of TiO2 and TiO2 ‐SiO2 . A facile route for the growth of TiO2 and TiO2 ‐SiO2 nanoparticles on CNT and Au/CNT via sol‐gel method is proposed. The synergic role of CNT‐Au loading increased the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 at the example of methylene blue photodegradation.