Synthesis and characterization of carbon nanotubes–TiO 2 nanocomposites

Abstract

The main objective of this paper is to coat carbon multiwall nanotubes surface with TiO 2 as anatase in view of photocatalytic application for these nanocomposites. Carbon nanotubes were produced by catalytic decomposition of acetylene at 600 °C. The coating was performed by a sol–gel method using classical alkoxides as Ti(OEt) 4 and Ti(OPr i ) 4 and by hydrothermal hydrolysis of TiOSO 4, leading to different TiO 2 morphologies. In using the sol–gel method, nanotubes are coated either with a continuous TiO 2 thin film when the precursor is Ti(OEt) 4, or with TiO 2 nanoparticles when the precursor is Ti(OPr i ) 4. By hydrothermal treament, more compact and crystalline nanocomposites are obtained.