Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://hdl.handle.net/10216/106051
Author(s): | Sandra M. Miranda George Em. Romanos Vlassis Likodimos Rita R. N. Marques Evangelos P. Favvas Fotios K. Katsaros Konstantinos L. Stefanopoulos Vítor J. P. Vilar Joaquim L. Faria Polycarpos Falaras Adrián M. T. Silva |
Title: | Pore structure, interface properties and photocatalytic efficiency of hydration/dehydration derived TiO2/CNT composites |
Issue Date: | 2014 |
Abstract: | Manifold advantages are foreseen by using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as support for inorganic TiO2 nanoparticles due to the unique texture/morphology and adsorption capacity of CNTs. Synergistic effects might also result from interfacial charge transfer between the CNTs and TiO2. Effective charge transfer has the potentiality to limit electron/hole recombination and shift the TiO2 photocatalytic response to the visible range. Homogeneous mixing and intimate contact between the graphitic and TiO2 surfaces are of high importance in order to trigger synergistic effects. Thus, the existence of complementary methods to shed light on both these features is of high importance when developing TiO2/CNT composite photocatalysts. In this work, a wide variety of TiO2/CNT composites was prepared by a simple hydration/dehydration procedure, using single-wall (SWCNTs) and multi-wall (MWCNTs) carbon nanotubes, either functionalized or not, and TiO2 nanoparticles of different size. To evaluate the degree of homogeneity between the graphitic and inorganic phases, a new methodology which was based on a complex interpretation of the liquid nitrogen porosimetry (LN2) isotherms of the composites and of each phase in the composite separately was developed. Furthermore, interface interaction characteristics were elucidated by micro-Raman spectroscopy while small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements provided insight on the surface roughness and micropore structure of the TiO2/SWCNT samples. The Raman analysis concluded to the absence of any interfacial interaction. In this context the efficiency of the prepared composites to photocatalytically oxidize caffeine was evaluated in regard to their homogeneity, as derived by the LN2 method. As expected, in the absence of synergetic effects the photbcatalytic efficiency correlated well with the extent of mixing between the CNTs and TiO2 phases. The discrepancy observed for one of the samples was attributed to the existence of large micropores, a feature that was distinguishable solely by SAXS measurements. |
Subject: | Engenharia química, Engenharia química Chemical engineering, Chemical engineering |
Scientific areas: | Ciências da engenharia e tecnologias::Engenharia química Engineering and technology::Chemical engineering |
URI: | https://hdl.handle.net/10216/106051 |
Related Information: | info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia/Projectos de I&DT em Todos os Domínios Científicos/PTDC/EQU-EQU/100554/2008/AIRPHOTOXI-DESTOXIFICAÇÃO SOLAR DE AR INTERIOR: BIOAEROSSÓIS E COVs/AIRPHOTOXI info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia/Programa de Financiamento Plurianual de Unidades de I&D/PEst-C/EQB/LA0020/2011/Projeto Estratégico-LA 20 - 2011-2012/LA 20 info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia/Projectos de I&DT em Todos os Domínios Científicos/PTDC/AAC-AMB/122312/2010/Membranas com nanotubos de carbono para dessalinização e purificação de águas/Nanotubos de carbono info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia/Projetos Estratégicos/PEst-C/EQB/LA0020/2013/PROJECTO ESTRATÉGICO - LA 20 - 2013-2014/LA 20 |
Document Type: | Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional |
Rights: | restrictedAccess |
Appears in Collections: | FEUP - Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
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70137.pdf Restricted Access | 4.35 MB | Adobe PDF | Request a copy from the Author(s) |
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