Facile Preparation Method of TiO2/Activated Carbon for Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue

Author:

Le Phuoc Huu123ORCID,Vy Tran Thi Thuy4,Thanh Vo Van4,Hieu Duong Hoang4,Tran Quang-Thinh4,Nguyen Ngoc-Van Thi4,Uyen Ngo Ngoc3,Tram Nguyen Thi Thu3,Toan Nguyen Chi5,Xuan Ly Tho6,Tuyen Le Thi Cam7,Kien Nguyen Trung8,Hu Yu-Min9ORCID,Jian Sheng-Rui10ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Center for Plasma and Thin Film Technologies, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei City 24301, Taiwan

2. International Ph.D. Program in Plasma and Thin Film Technology, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei City 24301, Taiwan

3. Faculty of Basic Sciences, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 179 Nguyen Van Cu Street, Can Tho City 900000, Vietnam

4. Faculty of Pharmacy, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 179 Nguyen Van Cu Street, Can Tho City 900000, Vietnam

5. Faculty of Pharmacy and Nursing, Tay Do University, 68 Tran Chien Street, Can Tho City 900000, Vietnam

6. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Taiwan University Science and Technology, Taipei City 106335, Taiwan

7. Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Can Tho University, 3/2 Street, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City 900000, Vietnam

8. Faculty of Medicine, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 179 Nguyen Van Cu Street, Can Tho City 900000, Vietnam

9. Department of Applied Physics, National University of Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung 81148, Taiwan

10. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan

Abstract

The development of nanocomposite photocatalysts with high photocatalytic activity, cost-effectiveness, a simple preparation process, and scalability for practical applications is of great interest. In this study, nanocomposites of TiO2 Degussa P25 nanoparticles/activated carbon (TiO2/AC) were prepared at various mass ratios of (4:1), (3:2), (2:3), and (1:4) by a facile process involving manual mechanical pounding, ultrasonic-assisted mixing in an ethanol solution, paper filtration, and mild thermal annealing. The characterization methods included XRD, SEM-EDS, Raman, FTIR, XPS, and UV-Vis spectroscopies. The effects of TiO2/AC mass ratios on the structural, morphological, and photocatalytic properties were systematically studied in comparison with bare TiO2 and bare AC. TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited dominant anatase and minor rutile phases and a crystallite size of approximately 21 nm, while AC had XRD peaks of graphite and carbon and a crystallite size of 49 nm. The composites exhibited tight decoration of TiO2 nanoparticles on micron-/submicron AC particles, and uniform TiO2/AC composites were obtained, as evidenced by the uniform distribution of Ti, O, and C in an EDS mapping. Moreover, Raman spectra show the typical vibration modes of anatase TiO2 (e.g., E1g(1), B1g(1), Eg(3)) and carbon materials with D and G bands. The TiO2/AC with (4:1), (3:2), and (2:3) possessed higher reaction rate constants (k) in photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) than that of either TiO2 or AC. Among the investigated materials, TiO2/AC = 4:1 achieved the highest photocatalytic activity with a high k of 55.2 × 10−3 min−1 and an MB removal efficiency of 96.6% after 30 min of treatment under UV-Vis irradiation (120 mW/cm2). The enhanced photocatalytic activity for TiO2/AC is due to the synergistic effect of the high adsorption capability of AC and the high photocatalytic activity of TiO2. Furthermore, TiO2/AC promotes the separation of photoexcited electron/hole (e−/h+) pairs to reduce their recombination rate and thus enhance photocatalytic activity. The optimal TiO2/AC composite with a mass ratio of 4/1 is suggested for treating industrial or household wastewater with organic pollutants.

Funder

Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development

Publisher

MDPI AG

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