High dispersions of carbon nanotubes on cotton-cellulose benzoate fibers with enhanced electrochemical generation of reactive oxygen species in water

Abstract

Herein, we report a novel benzoylated-cotton and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (BC-MWCNT) composite that exhibits efficient electrocatalytic properties to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) in water. The BC-MWCNT was deposited on a fluoride-doped tin oxide (FTO) electrode to probe its electrochemical properties. The ROS produced through this approach were exploited towards the degradation of Methyl Orange (MO) dye. The BC-MWCNT electrode produced ROS at a −1.0 V potential, as indicated by the electrochemical degradation of MO dye solutions by 96% at pH 7.4 in 60 min. Experiments performed by varying the pH and electrolyte concentrations produced dramatic changes in the kinetics of the reaction, increasing degradation to 100% and shortening reaction time to 4 min with optimal conditions at pH 3.