Abstract

Activated carbon fibers (ACFs) supported TiO2 photocatalyst was successfully prepared by a molecular adsorption–deposition (MAD) method followed by calcination in a stream of Ar gas. The photocatalyst developed was characterized by SEM, XRD, XPS, BET surface area and UV–vis adsorption spectroscopy. SEM observation showed TiO2 was deposited on almost each carbon fiber with a coating thickness of about 100 nm, and the space between adjacent fibers was remained unfilled to allow UV light to penetrate into the felt-form photocatalyst to a certain depth. Anatase-form TiO2 was uniquely developed even as calcination temperatures rose up to 900 °C. Tight contact of thin TiO2 coating to carbon fibers surfaces was supposed to suppress phase transformation of TiO2 from anatase to rutile, and to keep high crystallinity of anatase. As confirmed by XRD and XPS examinations, the micrographic structure and surface properties of ACFs had not been damaged by the deposition process and calcination at high temperatures. The present photocatalyst showed high photocatalytic reactivity in photodegradation of highly concentrated methylene blue (MB) solutions. The comparative experiments indicated the photocatalyst produced had a combined effect of photocatalytic reactivity of anatase-type TiO2 with adsorptive property of activated carbon fibers. In addition, the possibility of cyclic usage of the photocatalyst was also confirmed.

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.