Hydrothermal synthesis of titanium dioxide nanotube with methylamine for photodegradation of Congo red

Abstract

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotube photocatalyst is highly desired for the photodegradation of dye in wastewater treatment. A series of titanium dioxide nanotube photocatalysts were successfully synthesized using methylamine as N-ligand via hydrothermal treatment at different hydrothermal temperatures and durations. The effect of these two parameters on the photocatalytic activity of synthesized materials were investigated. TEM micrographs and XRD analysis depicted methylamine assisted the transformation of anatase TiO2 nanoparticles to nanotube via the exfoliation of TiO2 crystallite into layered sheet and promoted the curling of layered sheet. Hydrothermal temperature up to 180°C was able to fully transform the morphology of anatase TiO2 nanoparticles into nanotube. The reaction duration was further modified. Fluorescence analysis showed that 24 h hydrothermal duration gave the slowest electron-hole recombination rate. DR-UV-Vis analysis indicated that the synthesized samples were active under UV region. The photocatalytic performance of the synthesized materials was tested in the photodegradation of Congo red under UV irradiation. The results suggested that among the materials synthesized, TiO2 nanotube synthesized at 180°C, under 24 h hydrothermal duration appeared to be the most superior photocatalyst which gave the highest photocatalytic activity of 77%. Possible mechanism of the TiO2 nanotube formation with methylamine as N-ligand is presented.