Synthesis of carbon nanotube-nanotubular titania composites by catalyst-free CVD process: insights into the formation mechanism and photocatalytic properties

Abstract

This work presents the synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) inside titania nanotube (TNTs) templates by a catalyst-free chemical vapor deposition (CVD) approach as composite platforms for photocatalytic applications. The nanotubular structure of TNTs prepared by electrochemical anodization provides a unique platform to grow CNTs with precisely controlled geometric features. The formation mechanism of carbon nanotubes inside nanotubular titania without using metal catalysts is explored and explained. The structural features, crystalline structures, and chemical composition of the resulting CNTs-TNTs composites were systematically characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy. The deposition time during CVD process was used to determine the formation mechanism of CNTs inside TNTs template. The photocatalytic properties of CNTs-TNTs composites were evaluated via the degradation of rhodamine B, an organic model molecule, in aqueous solution under mercury-xenon Hg (Xe) lamp irradiation monitored by UV-visible spectroscopy. The obtained results reveal that CNTs induces a synergestic effect on the photocatalytic activity of TNTs for rhodamine B degradation, opening new opportunities to develop advanced photocatalysts for environmental and energy applications.