title: Optimisation of the Photonic Efficiency of TiO2 Decorated on MWCNTs for Methylene Blue Photodegradation.
abstract: MWCNTs/TiO2 nanocomposite was prepared by oxidising MWCNT in H2SO4/HNO3 then decorating it with TiO2-p25 nanopowder. The composites were characterised using XRD, TEM, FT-IR PL and UV-vis spectroscopy. The TEM images have shown TiO2 nanoparticles immobilised onto the sidewalls of the MWCNTs. The UV-vis spectrum confirms that the nanocomposites can significantly absorb more light in the visible regions compared with the commercial TiO2 (P25). The catalytic activity of these nanocomposites was determined by photooxidation of MB aqueous solution in the presence of visible light. The MWCNTs/TiO2 (1:3) mass ratio showed maximum degradation efficiency. However, its activity was more favourable in alkaline and a neutral pH than an acidic medium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nura
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abdullahi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saion
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Abdul Halim
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Shaari
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Naif Mohammed
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Al-Hada
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Aysar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keiteb
mesh_terms: D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D010782:Photolysis; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium; D008751:Methylene Blue