Effective optical nanoparticles and nanocomposites based on a carbon nanotubes-organic—inorganic nanohybrid for industrial pollutant removal

Abstract

Improving the optical properties of zinc oxide to meet the practical requirements of photocatalytic reactions and solar cells is an ongoing challenge. To address this challenge, different nanostructures of ZnO were prepared from an organic—inorganic-CNTs nanohybrid. The nanohybrid was formed through intercalation of the long chain fatty acid C17H35COOH and carbon nanotubes into Zn–Al nanolayered structures. X-ray diffraction revealed an increase in the interlayer spacing of the Zn–Al layered double hydroxides from 0.75 nm to 2.1 nm after admixing with the CNTs and organic fatty acid. Thermal analyses and FTIR confirmed the formation of the CNTs–C18–Zn–Al nanohybrid. Three different thermal treatments were used to transform the nanohybrid into nanostructures of doped zinc oxide nanoparticles and zinc aluminum oxide nanocomposites. As a result of changes in the nano size and structure, the band gap energy of the products decreased from 3.3 eV to 1.8 eV, to give efficient photocatalysts. The nanomaterials were used to purify water through the photocatalytic degradation of colored pollutants under UV light. A kinetic study showed that water purification was achieved within a short time, demonstrating the effectiveness of the nanomaterials. The nanohybrid and its derivatives are attractive materials for designing-efficient photocatalysts for pollutant degradation.