title: Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue under UV light irradiation on prepared carbonaceous TiO2.
abstract: This study involves the investigation of altering the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 using composite materials. Three different forms of modified TiO2, namely, TiO2/activated carbon (AC), TiO2/carbon (C), and TiO2/PANi, were compared. The TiO2/carbon composite was obtained by pyrolysis of TiO2/PANi prepared by in situ polymerization method, while the TiO2/activated carbon (TiO2/AC) was obtained after treating TiO2/carbon with 1.0 M KOH solution, followed by calcination at a temperature of 450°C. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TG-DTA), Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET), and UV-Vis spectroscopy were used to characterize and evaluate the prepared samples. The specific surface area was determined to be in the following order: TiO2/AC > TiO2/C > TiO2/PANi > TiO2 (179 > 134 > 54 > 9 m(2) g(-1)). The evaluation of photocatalytic performance for the degradation of methylene blue under UV light irradiation was also of the same order, with 98 > 84.7 > 69% conversion rate, which is likely to be attributed to the porosity and synergistic effect in the prepared samples.
authors.affiliation: Solar Energy Research Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Zatil Amali Che
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Ramli
authors.affiliation: Solar Energy Research Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nilofar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Asim
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Science & Food Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Wan N R W
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Isahak
authors.affiliation: Solar Energy Research Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Zeynab
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Emdadi
authors.affiliation: Solar Energy Research Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Norasikin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahmad-Ludin
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Science & Food Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: M Ambar
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Yarmo
authors.affiliation: Solar Energy Research Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sopian
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D002384:Catalysis; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: C009495:titanium dioxide; D002244:Carbon; D014025:Titanium; D008751:Methylene Blue