(283b) Carbon Nanotube-TiO2 Composites for Photocatalytic Oxidation of Volatile Organic Compounds

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), when paired with titanium dioxide (TiO2), can increase the charge recombination time of the photocatalyst, improving quantum efficiency. Higher quantum efficiency means excited electrons have a better chance of reacting with adsorbed pollutant molecules which therefore increases the effectiveness of the photocatalyst. CNT/TiO2 photocatalysts have been prepared by adding titanium (IV) chloride to a solution of oxidized CNTs dispersed in H2O2. The photocatalysts have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine TiO2 crystal structures, surface morphology and chemical states. The activity of CNT/TiO2 photocatalysts with different amounts of CNTs has been studied by degrading acetaldehyde, a volatile organic solvent representative of organic atmospheric pollutants. The photocatalytic degradation reaction data revealed that the presence of a small amount of CNT additive not only changes the morphology of the composite, improving porosity, but also enhances the activity of the photocatalyst.