Rhodamine B Photodegradation in Aqueous Solutions Containing Nitrogen Doped TiO(2) and Carbon Nanotubes Composites

In this work, new results concerning the potential of mixtures based on nitrogen doped titanium dioxide (TiO(2):N) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as possible catalyst candidates for the rhodamine B (RhB) UV photodegradation are reported. The RhB photodegradation was evaluated by UV–VIS absorption spectroscopy using samples of TiO(2):N and CNTs of the type of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), double-wall carbon nanotubes (DWNTs), multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), and single-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized with carboxyl groups (SWNT-COOH) having various concentrations of CNTs. The best photocatalytic performance was obtained for sample containing TiO(2):N and 2.5 wt.% SWNTs-COOH, when approx. 85% of dye removal was achieved after 300 min. of UV irradiation. The reaction kinetics of RhB aqueous solutions containing TiO(2):N/CNT mixtures followed a complex first-order kinetic model. The TiO(2):N/CNTs catalyst induced higher photodegradation efficiency of RhB than TiO(2):N due to the presence of CNTs, which act as adsorbent and dispersing agent and capture the photogenerated electrons of TiO(2):N hindering the electron–hole recombination.