Enhanced charge separation in TiO₂/nanocarbon hybrid photocatalysts through coupling with short carbon nanotubes.

ABSTRACT: The interfacial contact between TiO₂ and graphitic carbon in a hybrid composite plays a critical role in electron transfer behavior, and in turn, its photocatalytic efficiency. Herein, we report a new approach for improving the interfacial contact and delaying charge carrier recombination in the hybrid by wrapping short single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) on TiO₂ particles (100 nm) via a hydration-condensation technique. Short SWCNTs with an average length of 125 ± 90 nm were obtained from an ultrasonication-assisted cutting process of pristine SWCNTs (1-3 μm in length). In comparison to conventional TiO₂-SWCNT composites synthesized from long SWCNTs (1.2 ± 0.7 μm), TiO₂ wrapped with short SWCNTs showed longer lifetimes of photogenerated

SUBMITTER: Al Mayyahi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8696072 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature