Structural changes of TiO2 as a result of CNTs incorporation

Abstract

The subject of this research work was to analyze the structural and morphological changes of TiO2 as a result of incorporation of CNTs and interpret the underlying principles for the observed interactions. Hybrid TiO2/CNTs nanostructures were prepared by simplified sol-gel method followed by monitoring the thermally-induced alterations occurring up to 400 ºC. The effects of different type of CNTs (activated MWCNTs and as prepared SWCNTs) as well as the variation of the content of MWCNTs in association with the metal-dopant (Pt or Co) influencing the structural parameters of TiO2 was monitored. Addition of CNTs and metallic phase causes reduction of TiO2 (anatase) crystallite size. The applied instrumental techniques such as XRPD, Raman spectroscopy and thermal (TG, DTA and DTG) analysis points out on achieved interaction between TiO2 and incorporated CNTs. Morphological changes, observed from the SEM micrographs, revealed better inter-locking of the TiO2 matrix with SWCNTs than with MWCNTs. Formation of a more structurally disordered and non-stoichiometric anatase phase seemed to be a preferred choice for the obtained TiO2-CNT-metalic phase nanocomposites for further utilization in sensor-design products.