Abstract
A composite of multi-walled carbon nanotube/tungsten oxide (MWCNT/WO 3) has been successfully synthesized. The prepared composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The catalytic activity was investigated by rhodamine B degradation under solar irradiation. The influence of various degradation parameters such as solar illumination time, initial dye concentration, dosage and pH was investigated. It was found that the composite exhibits an enhanced photocatalytic activity as compared with WO 3 and a mechanical mixture of MWCNTs and WO 3. The enhancement in photocatalytic performance of the MWCNT/WO 3 composite has been explained based on adsorption ability and electron transportation as a result of a strong interaction between WO 3 and MWCNTs. Besides, MWCNTs acts as dispersing agent preventing WO 3 from agglomerating during the catalytic process, providing a high active surface area of the catalyst. A reasonable mechanism for the enhanced reactivity was proposed.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 337-344 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Colloid and Interface Science |
| Volume | 362 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 15 Oct 2011 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Tawfik A. Saleh acknowledges the support of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, (KFUPM) Dhahran, Saudi Arabia for this work.
Keywords
- Degradation
- Multi-walled carbon nanotube
- Rhodamine B
- Tungsten oxide
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Biomaterials
- Surfaces, Coatings and Films
- Colloid and Surface Chemistry