Electrodeposited multi-walled carbon nanotubes on Ag-loaded TiO2 nanotubes/Ti plates as a new photocatalyst for dye degradation

摘要

MWCNTs/Ag/TiO2NTs plates were synthesized via electrochemical reduction of functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on Ag/TiO2NTs. The loading of silver nanoparticles was carried out by electroless reduction of Ag1+ onto TiO2 nanotubes previously formed by anodizing titanium. The SEM analysis revealed that MWCNTs were loaded significantly on the as-prepared Ag/TiO2NTs, where nanoparticles of Ag had grown on the walls of TiO2NTs. The photocatalytic activity of the synthesized plates was evaluated by the photodegradation of Methyl Orange (MO) dye under UV light irradiation. The results indicated that the MWCNTs/Ag/TiO2NTs demonstrated improved efficiency for MO photodegradation in comparison with Ag/TiO2NTs and TiO2NTs. This is attributed to the efficient separation and transfer of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. The chemical oxygen demand of an MO dye solution as measured at specified time intervals provides a good idea about the degradation of MO.