TiO2/carbon nanotube hybrid nanostructures: Solvothermal synthesis and their visible light photocatalytic activity

MWCNT/TiO{sub 2} hybrid nanostructures were prepared via solvothermal synthesis and sol-gel method with benzyl alcohol as a surfactant. As-prepared hybrid materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results showed that MWCNTs were uniformly decorated with anatase nanocrystals in solvothermal condition, but MWCNTs were embedded in a majority of TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles by sol-gel method. When the weight ratio of MWCNTs to TiO{sub 2} was 20%, MWCNT/TiO{sub 2} hybrid nanostructures prepared by solvothermal synthesis exhibited higher visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity than that prepared by sol-gel method. Post-annealing of MWCNT/TiO{sub 2} nanostructures at 400 deg. C resulted in the formation of the carbonaceous Ti-C bonds on the interface between TiO{sub 2} and MWCNTs, which enhanced the photoabsorbance of the hybrid materials in the visible light region and improved the visible-light degradation efficiency of methylene blue. - Graphical abstract: MWCNT/TiO{sub 2} nanostructures have been prepared by solvothermal method, which exhibited higher visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity than that prepared by sol-gel method. The carbonaceous Ti-C bonds on the interface between TiO{sub 2} and MWCNTs enhanced the photoabsorbance of the hybrid materials in the visible light region. Highlights: > Anatase TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles were anchored onmore » CNTs surface uniformly via solvothermal method {yields} The morphology facilitated the electron transfer between CNTs and TiO{sub 2} {yields} Ti-C bonds extended the absorption of MWCNT/TiO{sub 2} to the whole visible light region. > The hybrid nanostructures showed enhanced visible-light induced photocatalytic activity.« less