Synthesis of carbon nanotube/anatase titania composites by a combination of sol–gel and self-assembly at low temperature

• Published in: Journal of solid state chemistry Vol. 184; no. 5; pp. 1286 - 1292
• Main Authors: Hu, Changyuan, Zhang, Rongfa, Xiang, Junhuai, Liu, Tingzhi, Li, Wenkui, Li, Mingsheng, Duo, Shuwang, Wei, Fei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01-05-2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: ADSORPTION; AMINES; Anatase; Applied sciences; AZO COMPOUNDS; AZO DYES; CALCINATION; CARBON; Carbon nanotubes; CATALYSIS; CHALCOGENIDES; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; COHERENT SCATTERING; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; DECOMPOSITION; DEPOSITION; DIFFRACTION; DYES; ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY; ELEMENTS; EMISSION; Exact sciences and technology; INDICATORS; INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; Ionization properties; LUMINESCENCE; Materials science; Methods of nanofabrication; METHYL ORANGE; MICROSCOPY; MICROSTRUCTURE; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Nanostructure; NANOSTRUCTURES; NANOTUBES; NONMETALS; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; ORGANIC ACIDS; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS; Organic polymers; ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS; Other topics in nanoscale materials and structures; OXIDES; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; PARTICLE SIZE; PHOTOCATALYSIS; Photodegradation; PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY; PHOTOLUMINESCENCE; PHOTON EMISSION; Physicochemistry of polymers; Physics; Properties and characterization; PYROLYSIS; SCATTERING; Self assembly; SIZE; SOL-GEL PROCESS; Sol–gel; SORPTION; SPECTROSCOPY; SULFONIC ACIDS; Surface chemistry; SURFACES; SYNTHESIS; THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES; THIN FILMS; TiO 2; TITANIUM COMPOUNDS; Titanium dioxide; TITANIUM OXIDES; TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS; TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; X-RAY DIFFRACTION; X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY; Photodegradation; Carbon nanotubes; Self-assembly; TiO 2; Sol–gel; Methyl orange; Particle size; Fourier transform spectroscopy; Anatase; Adsorption site; Photoluminescence; XRD; Surface structure; Thin films; Nanoparticles; Hydroxyl group; Adsorption structure; Sol-gel process; Nanomaterial synthesis; Photochemical degradation; Conduction bands; Thick coatings; X-ray microscopy; Photocatalysis; Sol-gel; Carbon; Polyelectrolyte; Composite materials; Transmission electron microscopy; Multiwalled nanotube; Crystal microstructure; Titanium oxide; Catalyst activity; Nanostructured materials; Physicochemical properties; X-ray photoelectron spectra; TiO2
• ISSN: 0022-4596; 1095-726X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jssc.2011.03.040

A simple method is described for the synthesis of carbon nanotube/anatase titania composites by a combination of a sol–gel method with a self-assembly technique at 65
°C. This method makes use of polyelectrolyte for wrapping multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and providing them with adsorption sites for electrostatically driven TiO
2 nanoparticle deposition. The composites were characterized using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and photoluminescence for analyzing their crystal phase, microstructure, particle size, and other physicochemical properties. The results showed that MWCNT were covered with an anatase TiO
2 thin layer or surrounded by an anatase TiO
2 thick coating, which is constructed of TiO
2 particles about 6
nm in size. The composites were rich in surface hydroxyl groups. The excited e
−
in conduction band of TiO
2 may migrate to MWCNT. Concerning the potential applicability, MWCNT/TiO
2 composites showed excellent photocatalytic activity toward the photodegradation of methyl orange.
MWCNT/anatase TiO
2 composites have been prepared by a combination of a sol–gel method and a self-assembly technique in one step at low temperature without high temperature calcination.
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► MWCNT/anatase TiO
2 composites could be prepared in one-pot at low temperature. ► MWCNT were covered with a TiO
2 thin layer or surrounded by a TiO
2 thick coating. ► Composites were rich in surface hydroxyl groups. ► Composites showed excellent photodegradation activity of methyl orange.