Photodegradation of Organic Dyes Over Nickel Distributed CNT/TiO2 Composite Synthesized by a Simple Sol-Gel Method

Abstract

In this study, the multi-walled carbon nanotubes was oxidized by m-chlorperbenzoic acid at first and then reaction with titanium n-butoxide and nickel nitrate to prepare Ni distributed CNT/TiO₂ composite by a simple sol-gel method. The functional groups formed on the surface of MWCNTs were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The prepared Ni distributed CNT/TiO₂ composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The photodegradation of methylene blue, methylene orange and rhodamine B solution under UV irradiation was employed to test the photocatalytic activity of the Ni distributed CNT/TiO₂ composite. According to the results, Ni distributed CNT/TiO₂ composite showed excellent photocatalytic activity for decomposing of methylene blue, methylene orange and rhodamine-B solution, due to the electron absorb effect of MWCNTs and electron trap effect of nickel could improve the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂.