Synthesis of carbon nanotube/anatase titania composites by a combination of sol-gel and self-assembly at low temperature

A simple method is described for the synthesis of carbon nanotube/anatase titania composites by a combination of a sol-gel method with a self-assembly technique at 65 degrees C. This method makes use of polyelectrolyte for wrapping multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and providing them with adsorption sites for electrostatically driven TiO(2) nanoparticle deposition. The composites were characterized using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and photoluminescence for analyzing their crystal phase, microstructure, particle size, and other physicochemical properties. The results showed that MWCNT were covered with an anatase TiO(2) thin layer or surrounded by an anatase TiO(2) thick coating, which is constructed of TiO(2) particles about 6 nm in size. The composites were rich in surface hydroxyl groups. The excited e(-) in conduction band of TiO(2) may migrate to MWCNT. Concerning the potential applicability, MWCNT/TiO(2) composites showed excellent photocatalytic activity toward the photodegradation of methyl orange. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.