TiO(2) Nanoribbons/Carbon Nanotubes Composite with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity; Fabrication, Characterization, and Application

TiO(2) nanoribbons (TiO(2) NRs) loaded with FeCo-Al(2)O(3) catalyst were synthesized and used as a precursor in the synthesis of TiO(2) nanoribbons/carbon nanotubes (TiO(2) NRs/CNTs) composite by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. TiO(2) NRs and TiO(2) NRs/CNTs composite were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, TEM, SEM, EDX and UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The results revealed the formation of TiO(2)-B and hydrogen titanate nanoribbon like structures by the hydrothermal treatment. After loading TiO(2) NRs by FeCo-Al(2)O(3) catalyst and the CVD growth of carbon nanotubes, the synthetic TiO(2) nanoribbons converted entirely to TiO(2)-B nanoribbons with nanopits structure. The composite composed of tube-like nanostructures forming an interlocked network from CNTs and TiO(2)-B NRs. The composite shows a relatively red-shifted band gap (3.09 eV), broader and stronger UV absorption band relative to TiO(2) NRs. The photocatalytic properties of TiO(2) NRs and TiO(2) NRs/CNTs composite were studied under sunlight irradiation. The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye was investigated as a function of contact time, dye concentration, and catalyst dose. The kinetics and mechanisms of degradation were discussed. TiO(2) NRs/CNTs composite showed higher stability after six runs and 50% shorter irradiation time than TiO(2) NRs photocatalyst.