Influence of modified CNT-Ag nanocomposite addition on photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange by mesoporous TiO₂

ABSTRACT

Mesoporous TiO₂ was synthesized by sol-gel method and mechanically mixed with functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes which decorated by different amount of Ag. Nanocomposite was characterized by X-ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy/Transmission Electron Microscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy, UV–Visible Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy, and UV–Vis Absorption Spectroscopy. The photoactivity of nanocomposite containing mesoporous TiO₂, multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), and Ag was evaluated by the degradation of methyl orange in aqueous solution under UV irradiation. Results showed that the MWCNT that decorated with the 15.5% of Ag facilitates the photocatalytic activity of mesoporous TiO₂.

KEYWORDS:

• Mesoporous TiO₂
• Ag
• multiwall carbon nanotube
• photocatalytic activity
• nanocomposite