Addition Of MWCNTs Research Articles

NiSe-Ni3Se2/Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Composites as Efficient Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction in Alkaline Media

The development of effective electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is of great importance to combat energy-related concerns in the environment. Herein, we report a one-step solvothermal method employed for the fabrication of nickel selenide hybrids (NiSe-Ni3Se2) and a series of nickel selenide hybrid/multiwalled carbon nanotube composites (NiSe-Ni3Se2/MWCNT) as electrocatalysts for the OER in alkaline media. The catalytic activities of these electrocatalysts were investigated via several electrochemical characterization techniques, such as linear sweep voltammetry, chronoamperometric studies at constant potential, electrochemical surface area determination, and Tafel slope calculation, under alkaline conditions. Morphological observations demonstrated the agglomeration of non-uniform NiSe-Ni3Se2 microspheres around carbon nanotubes (CNTs), demonstrating the successful synthesis of NiSe-Ni3Se2/MWCNT nanocomposites. Among the tested electrocatalysts, the 20% NiSe-Ni3Se2/MWCNT nanocomposite demonstrated the highest activity, exhibiting an overpotential of 325 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA.cm−2 in 0.1 mol.dm−3 KOH solution. The NiSe-Ni3Se2/MWCNT nanocomposites showed improved activity toward the OER compared to bare NiSe-Ni3Se2 hybrids and MWCNTs, exhibiting an overpotential of 528, 392, and 434 mV for 10%, 30%, and 50% NiSe-Ni3Se2/MWCNT nanocomposites, respectively. These results compare favorably to the overpotential of noble electrocatalysts, such as RuO2 and IrO2. Our results imply that the addition of MWCNTs increased the activity of NiSe-Ni3Se2 hybrids due to an increased number of catalytic sites, dispersion of NiSe-Ni3Se2 hybrid nanoparticles, and electronic conductivity of the nanocomposites. These nanocomposites also demonstrated better long-term stability compared to NiSe-Ni3Se2 hybrids and MWCNTs. Hence, NiSe-Ni3Se2/MWCNT nanocomposites possess the potential as effective electrocatalysts for the OER in alkaline media.

Short-beam shear of nanoprepreg/nanostitched three-dimensional carbon/epoxy multiwall carbon nanotube composites

The effect of out-of-plane stitching and the addition of multiwalled carbon nanotubes on the short-beam shear properties of carbon/epoxy composites were investigated. Stitching influenced the short-beam strength of carbon satin and twill fabric composites, where the stitched satin carbon/epoxy composites showed improved short-beam properties compared with the unstitched satin carbon/epoxy composites. In general, stitching and MWCNTs addition enhanced the short-beam strength of the composite. The fracture of the composites generally exhibited as a combination of lateral total matrix cracking, warp fiber breakage and interlayer opening. In addition, all the structures experienced angularly sheared catastrophic through-the-thickness layer breakage. It was also shown that delamination was largely restricted in stitched and nano-added composites when compared to the unstitched samples. It can be concluded that nanostitching could be considered for improving short-beam strength properties of the composite.

Multi-walled carbon nanotube-incorporating electrospun composite fibrous mats for controlled drug release profile.

The fabrication of electrospun composite nanofiber mats used as drug delivery systems with controlled release property is of general interest in biomaterial sciences. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of MWCNTs on the release profile of the hydrophilic drug. For this aim, tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) loaded poly (lactic acid) (PLA)/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)/TCH-multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) composite fibrous mats were fabricated by electrospinning process, and the drug release profile, release kinetics and cytotoxicity were evaluated to determine the potential for utilization as drug delivery systems. Furthermore, the morphological and physicochemical properties of the composite PLA/PVP/TCH-MWCNTs fibrous mats were characterized. The results demonstrated that TCH and MWCNTs were successfully loaded into the PLA/PVP biopolymeric matrix and the addition of TCH or MWCNTs did not alter the uniform and beadless fibrous structure of the PLA/PVP fibers, resulting in increased Young's modulus and maintained the fibrous structure of the composite mats. Moreover, MWCNTs loaded electrospun mats showed much more controlled drug release manner, increased significantly the drug encapsulation efficiency and reduced the burst release of TCH. In vitro cytotoxicity assay showed that the PLA/PVP/TCH-MWCNTs composite mats did not have a toxic effect on the human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). With the improved physicochemical and mechanical properties, controlled drug release-profile and cytocompatibility, the fabricated composite nanofiber mats may be used as therapeutic materials for the biomedical applications as drug delivery systems.

Mechanical properties of highly dispersed carbon nanotubes reinforced cement-based materials

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are considered as ideal candidates for preparation of high performance cement-based composites due to their remarkable mechanical properties. Dispersion of CNTs is the crucial step while using CNTs in cement-based materials, while poor dispersion could lead to performance reduction of materials. In this paper, an effective dispersion method of MWCNTs by applying ultrasonic energy and in combination with surfactants was developed. The effects of surfactant type on the dispersion of MWCNTs were systematically investigated. Additionally, experiments are carried out to investigate the influence of concentration of MWCNTs on the mechanical properties of cement paste. The results show that a stable MWCNTs suspensions could be manufactured via the addition of surfactants and the stability of MWCNTs suspensions appears to be related to the ionic nature of the surfactant. Furthermore, the addition of MWCNTs is justified to enhance the flexural strength and compressive strength of the cement-based materials remarkably.

Creep behavior and mechanical properties of isotactic polypropylene composites via twice melt injection molding

Abstract Nowadays, the improvement of injection molding technology development research is in great demand due to the limitation of convenient injection molding for structural engineering applications. For injection-molded products, oriented structure is ubiquitous. To promote the formation of oriented structure, exert a positive impact on the final mechanical properties of polymer products, an advanced injection molding process is used to achieve multiple shear melt in this work. Based on our previous work about melt multi-injection molding technology, to investigate the influence about oriented structure of composites attracted by higher shear stress, iPP/MWCNTs and iPP/β-NA composites were studied. Compared to traditional injection-molded samples, the addition of MWCNTs impede the formation of oriented structure. For iPP/β-NA composites, the higher flow shear stress inside the mold wall increase the overall crystallinity but restrain the growth of β-crystal.

A comparative study of various polyelectrolyte/nanocomposite electrode combinations in symmetric supercapacitors

A more practical, nontoxic and cheaper electrolyte, poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) (PAMPS) was used to construct supercapacitors with different nanocomposite electrodes. The flexible devices were fabricated including active carbon (AC) electrode and nanocomposites electrodes of AC/nano-silica (nano-SiO2) and AC/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) at various weight percentages. The symmetrical cell made from AC electrodes generated a maximum specific capacitance (Cs) of 315 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1. The energy density of this device was 55.5 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 690 W kg−1. Excellent performance was achieved after 5000 charge-discharge cycles where the supercapacitor maintains 92% of its activity. The energy storage capability of the supercapacitors was also investigated with the addition of nano-SiO2 and MWCNTs. The Cs of the supercapacitors made with the electrodes AC/nano-SiO2 (5%, 10%, 25% and 50%) were 172, 228, 247 and 55 F g−1, respectively. Similarly, the capacity of the device including the electrodes of AC/MWCNTs (5%, 10%, 25% and 50%) varied as 191, 244, 93 and 20 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1. The maximum energy density of the devices having nano-SiO2 and MWCNT were 44.4 Wh kg−1 and 43.8 Wh kg−1, respectively at a power density of 520 W kg−1. A supercapacitor with certain dimension successfully operated a light-emitting diode (LED).

Multi-walled carbon nanotube-reinforced boron carbide matrix composites fabricated via ultra-high-pressure sintering

To well preserve the fine structure of MWCNTs in the fabrication of ceramic matrix composites, an ultra-high-pressure sintering method is employed here. The effects of the MWCNTs on the microstructure and properties of the composites are investigated. The B4C-MWCNTs composites are prepared under the pressure of 4.5 GPa at a low sintering temperature of 1300 °C for 10 min. The results indicate that the densification method is beneficial to protect MWCNTs from destruction and create a good interfacial combination between the MWCNTs and the matrix. The indentation crack length of the B4C-MWCNTs composites decreases and the electrical conductivity increases continuously with the increase of MWCNTs additive amount, reaching the optimum values at 5 vol% MWCNTs addition. The microstructural observations indicate that the reinforcement mechanism of the composites is mainly the crack branching, crack deflection, bridging, and pullout of MWCNTs. This finding provides a promising approach for producing more robust ceramics with CNTs reinforcing.

Structural properties and mechanical behavior of SWCNTs and MWCNTs reinforced Al2O3 fabricated by spark plasma sintering

Abstract Carbon nanotubes due to their structural and mechanical properties are good candidates as the second phase to improve the mechanical properties of alumina-based ceramics. In the present study, the effects of single wall and multi-wall carbon nanotubes on structural and mechanical properties of alumina were investigated. SWCNTs and MWCNTs were dispersed in alumina powder via a conventional method using 1 wt % PVA water solution as media. Sintering process for two different composite powders, alumina-2 wt. % SWCNTs and alumina 2 wt % MWCNTs was performed by spark plasma sintering technique at 1500 °C and 20 MPa for 10 min. Results showed that the presence of CNTs in alumina caused a considerable amount of porosity in final bodies. SEM images of fracture surfaces revealed the agglomeration of SWCNTs which played a dominant role in the deterioration of mechanical properties. MWCNTs reinforced alumina obtained higher Vickers hardness and bending strength values (12.91 GPa and 291 MPa, respectively) compared to that of SWCNTs (9.18 GPa and 276 MPa, respectively), due to sever agglomerate of SWCNTs throughout sintered composites. Typical load-displacement (P/h) curves were obtained from bending strength test and discussed. It was concluded that the addition of MWCNTs to alumina represented better densification and mechanical properties compared to SWCNTs.

Investigation of MWCNTs addition on mechanical properties of cordierite glass-ceramic composites

Abstract Cordierite-based glass/ceramic composites reinforced with different volume fractions of carbon nano-tubes were successfully prepared by isostatic pressing. Results showed the increase of flexural strength and fracture toughness of cordierite-based glass/carbon nano-tube composites with carbon nano-tube content. By incorporation of 5 vol.% carbon nano-tubes, the flexural strength and fracture toughness of the composites were increased by up to 50% and 72% compared to the unreinforced cordierite-based glass matrix, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy images indicated that the main strengthening and toughening mechanisms are load transfer, fiber pull out and crack bridging.

Effect of MWCNTs addition, on the mechanical behaviour of FRP composites, by reinforcement grafting and matrix modification

Carbon nanotubes have extraordinary potential for the modification of reinforcements and matrices in fiber-reinforced polymer composites for enhanced mechanical properties. In this study, 12 fiber-reinforced polymer composites were produced with and without the addition of functionalized multi-wall carbon nanotubes using different stacking sequences of E-glass and carbon fabric reinforcements in simple and hybrid configurations. Carbon nanotubes were incorporated into the fiber-reinforced polymer components prior to composite fabrication by: (i) grafting on reinforcements, and (ii) matrix modification by carbon nanotubes. The grafting of carbon nanotubes exhibited a pronounced tensile behaviour with carbon-rich fiber-reinforced polymers, whereas carbon nanotube-modified matrix showed more enhanced flexural behaviour overall. Around 12% increase in tensile strength was observed when the carbon nanotubes were grafted on to the reinforcements compared to respective pristine composites, while around 70% increase in the flexural strength was noticed as compared to the respective pristine composties when carbon nanotube-modified matrix was used.

Improved piezoelectric performances of highly orientated poly(β-hydroxybutyrate) electrospun nanofiber membrane scaffold blended with multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Highly orientated poly(β-hydroxybutyrate)/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (PHB/MWCNTs) composite nanofiber membrane scaffold was fabricated by electrospinning followed by hot-stretching treatment. X-ray diffraction confirmed the presence of MWCNTs in the structure of PHB/MWCNTs composite. Compared with neat PHB nanofiber scaffold, PHB/MWCNTs composite nanofiber scaffolds contained higher content of β-form crystals. The measured piezoelectric charge constant and induced electrical potentials generated on the surface of the nanofiber scaffolds indicated that addition of MWCNTs to PHB nanofiber matrix and hot-stretching treatment contributed to improving piezoelectric performances of PHB. The developed PHB/MWCNTs composite ‘smart’ nanofiber membrane is applicable for biomedical field, electronic sensors and actuators.

Preparation of size-controlled silver phosphate catalysts and their enhanced photocatalysis performance via synergetic effect with MWCNTs and PANI

In this work, novel photocatalysts Ag3PO4@MWCNTs@PANI with excellent visible light photocatalytic performance and photostability were successfully prepared by a facile in-situ precipitation method. The optimal catalyst Ag3PO4@0.1%MWCNTs@3%PANI showed the highest photocatalytic performance for degradation of phenol and p-nitrophenol, the apparent rate constant of which was 21.9 and 10 times than that of the pure Ag3PO4, respectively. Interestingly, the Ag3PO4 exhibited significant changes in particle size, which changed from 10 to 20 μm for pure Ag3PO4 particles into 0.38–1.0 μm and 0.15–0.38 μm with the addition of MWCNTs and PANI, respectively. In presence of MWCNTs, similar phenomena have been reported in our previous studies, while the ability of PANI dissolved in the presence of DMF solvent to control the size of Ag3PO4 crystal was reported for the first time. The dramatic enhancement of photocatalytic activity and photostability could be attributed to the synergetic effect between MWCNTs and PANI on Ag3PO4. The MWCNTs penetrating in the bulk phase of Ag3PO4 could serve as conductors of photogenerated electrons and rapidly migrated electrons to the surface of the photocatalysts. Meanwhile, photogenerated holes in the valence band of Ag3PO4 were transferred to the photocatalysts surface through HOMO of PANI. Consequently, high separation efficiency of electron-hole pairs was successfully achieved. A novel design and preparation strategy for photocatalyst was proposed to simultaneously achieve the small size control of catalyst crystal and improve the photocatalytic performance of catalyst by adding MWCNT and PANI.

Electrical and mechanical properties enhancing of PMMA and PA6 by functionalized MWCNTs addition

ABSTRACTPA6 and PMMA polymers with different MWCNTs addition (5, 7 and 9 wt %) were synthetized through casting solution, resulting in improvement properties in contrast to pristine polymers. SEM images showed the MWCNTs embedded into polymeric matrices. D, G and G´ bands of MWCNTs were confirmed by Raman spectroscopy and functional groups observed in both nanocomposites by FTIR demonstrated a strong interaction. A significant increasing in electrical conductivity and microhardness was observed in all the nanocomposites. Major microhardness values were obtained in MWCNTs/PA6 (50 HV) however the MWCNTs/PMMA nanocomposites showed the highest electrical conductivity value (6.4×10-4 S/cm).

Autogenous Shrinkage Property of High-Performance Multi-Walled Cement-Based Carbon Nanotubes Composites.

High-performance cement-based materials have been widely used and are sensitized to early cracks because of high autogenous shrinkage stress. In this study, the uniformly dispersed MWCNTs were added into high-performance cement-based materials. The autogenous shrinkage of high-performance cement-based composites with different contents of MWCNTs was also investigated at the water to cement ratio of 0.35, 0.30 and 0.25. It was proved that moderate incorporation of MWCNTs decreased the autogenous shrinkage of cement-based composites. With addition of 0.05 wt.% MWCNTs, the value of autogenous shrinkage was minimal after treatment for 7 days at the water to cement ratio of 0.35, with depressed percentage of autogenous shrinkage even reaching 46.74%. The value of autogenous shrinkage increased significantly decreased water to cement ratio, at the same addition of MWCNTs. The mechanism for autogenous shrinkage was also explored according to hydration property, porosity and microstructure of cement-based materials.

Preparation and corrosion behavior studies of chemically bonded phosphate ceramic coating reinforced with modified multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)

AbstractTo improve the corrosion resistance of the chemically bonded phosphate ceramic coating, the MWCNTs are selected as the reinforcement after the modification. Through the analysis of TEM, Raman, XRD, and FTIR, it can be shown that MWCNTs are modified with carboxyl groups and the surfactant after treatment, and show good dispersion. In addition, the electrochemical experiments were carried out with 3.5 wt% NaCl solution to investigate the corrosion behavior of the coatings. The results suggest that the corrosion resistance of coatings is improved with the introduction of MWCNTs and the corrosion resistance increases with the increase in MWCNTs. Besides, the corrosion mechanism of MWCNTs reinforced coating corrosion resistance was also investigated based on the corrosion behavior and microstructural characterizations. The gel strength is improved with the addition of MWCNTs because of its strong strength, which can prevent crack occurring and form the bridge when crack happens. Therefore, H2O, O2, and Cl− can be prevented from reaching to the substrate, which leads to good corrosion resistance.

Injection Molding of Carbon Nanotube-Filled, Polymer Composite Bipolar Plates

Bipolar plates are one of the primary components of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. These plates deliver reactants to electrodes, remove reaction byproducts, transfer heat, provide mechanical stability, and conduct electrical current. While graphite is the most commonly used material for fabrication of bipolar plates, the machining costs associated with graphite are a major drawback to mass production. In addition, graphite-based plates make the greatest contribution to the weight of the fuel cell stack. For this reason, electrically-conductive polymer composites have been explored as an alternative to the traditional metal alloys commonly used for fuel cell bipolar plates [1]. Polymer composites can reduce both the weight and cost of the bipolar plate, while still providing sufficient electrical properties. In prior efforts, compression-molded, carbon fiber epoxy composites have shown promise to achieve the electrical conductivities needed for fuel cell bipolar plates [2]. While compression molding can be used for production of high volumes, injection molding is most ideal for the levels of mass production required for full scale commercialization of fuel cells. The main objective of this study is to investigate the suitability of injection molding polymer composites with sufficient electrical conductivities. Polymer composites based on nylon were developed for injection molding of bipolar plates. Carbon fiber was added to nylon at weight percentages ranging from 10 to 50%. The highest conductivity was obtained by direct injection molding. Results show that the percolation threshold for carbon fiber in nylon occurs around 25 wt%. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes were added to the direct injection-molded samples at weight percentages ranging from 2 to 4% to investigate the synergistic effects of adding multiple conductive fillers [3]. The addition of MWCNTs increases conductivities to United States Department of Energy technical targets for bipolar plate electrical conductivity (> 100 S/cm). Samples fabricated with MWCNTs and carbon fiber are shown to achieve up to 400% improvement in conductivity over samples with carbon fiber alone. The addition of carbon black as a third conductive filler, as well as the use of a polymer blend, may further increase electrical conductivity. [1] Mighri F, Huneault MA and Champagne MF. (2004) Electrically conductive thermoplastic blends for injection and compression molding of bipolar plates in the fuel cell application. Polymer Engineering & Science 44: 1755-1765.[2] Hwang IU, Yu HN, Kim SS, et al. (2008) Bipolar plate made of carbon fiber epoxy composite for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Journal of Power Sources 184: 90-94.[3] Shen L, Wang FQ, Yang H, et al. (2011) The combined effects of carbon black and carbon fiber on the electrical properties of composites based on polyethylene or polyethylene/polypropylene blend. Polymer Testing 30: 442-448. Figure 1

Highly Stable Dye Sensitized Solar Cells with TiO2/MWCNT Nanocomposite Photoanodes

Ever since the first Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) have been reported in 1991, a considerable research is going on for improving its efficiency. The intensive research has made conversion efficiency to reach 14.3%. Although, fewer efforts have been made towards the study of their stability. This paper deals with the addition of MWCNTs to TiO₂ photoanode and their effect on the stability of the DSSCs. Nanocomposites of MWCNT and TiO₂ nanoparticles have been prepared in two different methods and characterized using FESEM and XRD. An optimum thick photoanodes were prepared using these composites and used in DSSC preparation. The photovoltaic performance of DSSCs was observed for a period of 6 months with an interval of 2 months. A huge decline was observed in the performance of cells made with pristine TiO₂ photoanode whereas the cells with TiO₂/MWCNT nanocomposite photoanode showed stability with a negligible decrease in the efficiency. Cells with nanocomposites prepared in both the methods were able to maintain their short circuit current (JSC) and open circuit voltage (VOC) even after continuous exposure of ambient light for 6 months. The work concludes that the addition of MWCNTs has made DSSCs less susceptible for ambient conditions.<div><br></div>

Experimental and modeling investigation of shape memory behavior of polyurethane/carbon nanotube nanocomposite

In the current study, mechanical, thermal, thermo‐mechanical, and shape memory behavior of polyurethane/carbon nanotube nanocomposites were investigated, and also a modified Halpin‐Tsai equation was used for the first time to model shape recovery stress of these smart composites. Results showed that strength enhanced with the addition of MWCNTs and improved to a maximum value of 130% for PU‐1wt%CNTs. SEM micrographs were also used to prove the presence of agglomerates at higher CNT contents. By investigating thermogravimetry curves, it was concluded that the incorporation of carbon nanotubes transferred thermal degradation to a higher temperature. Storage modulus improved for nanocomposite samples which showed the reinforcing effect of CNTs on polyurethane. Memory behavior showed that recovery stress was increased for PU‐CNTs samples to a maximum value of 100% and not any harmful effect on shape recoveries observed. Finally, modified Halpin‐Tsai equation was obtained with the correction factor of K = exp(−1.79‐152Vf).

Effect of multi-wall carbon nanotubes on Cr(VI) reduction by citric acid: Implications for their use in soil remediation.

The potential application of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in waste water treatment and their effect on the fate of heavy metals in the environments have attracted wide attention. However, the influence of CNTs on the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) in soils remains unknown. In this study, Cr(VI) adsorption by carboxylated or hydroxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-COOH or MWCNT-OH) was investigated together with their catalytic effect on Cr(VI) reduction by citric acid. Across the initial concentration range examined (5-60mg/L), the adsorption capacity of Cr(VI) by MWCNT-COOH and MWCNT-OH (pH5.0) could reach to 8.09 and 7.85mg/g, respectively. With the decrease in pH, the Cr(VI) adsorption by both MWCNTs increased, while their difference in adsorption capacity became more pronounced, evidenced by that the percentage of Cr(VI) adsorbed by MWCNT-COOH can be 1.3-fold higher than that of MWCNT-OH at a pH of 3.2. The Cr(VI) adsorption kinetics could be well described by pseudo-second-order (R2 > 0.95) and intra-particle diffusion models (R2 > 0.98). MWCNT-OH or MWCNT-COOH could accelerate the reduction of 0.1mM Cr(VI) by 1.0mM citric acid, with the first-order rate constant of 0.0325 and 0.0147h-1, respectively. This finding was explained as that the reactivity of citric acid might be enhanced with its adsorption on the MWCNT surfaces. The catalysis of the functionalized CNTs on the Cr(VI) reduction was inhibited as the pH increased. The addition of MWCNTs to an oxisol can enhance the Cr(VI) reduction because the final concentration of aqueous Cr(III), compared with that without addition of MWCNTs, increased from 20.7 to 32.6μM. Meanwhile, re-adsorption of aqueous Cr(III) onto the solid surfaces was also observed. The results above are important for understanding on the effect of CNTs on the fate of Cr(VI) and how they can be used to remediate Cr(VI)-polluted soils.

Flexible electrospun MWCNTs/Ag3PO4/PAN ternary composite fiber membranes with enhanced photocatalytic activity and stability under visible-light irradiation

Semiconductor photocatalysis is a promising technology for removing contaminants from water. Particularly, visible-light photocatalysis has attracted much attention because of its potential to utilize solar energy. However, nano-sized visible-light-driven photocatalysts easily aggregate during water treatment. Besides, it is difficult to recycle them from treated systems. Therefore, it is of great importance to develop visible-light-responsive immobilized photocatalysts with high activity. In this work, MWCNTs/Ag3PO4/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) ternary composite fiber membranes (TCFMs) with good photocatalytic performance were fabricated by electrospinning technique combined with in situ Ag3PO4 forming reaction. Due to the addition of MWCNTs, the band gap of MWCNTs/Ag3PO4/PAN TCFMs became narrower than that of Ag3PO4/PAN binary composite fiber membranes (BCFMs), which made MWCNTs/Ag3PO4/PAN TCFMs be able to use light at longer wavelengths. Compared with Ag3PO4/PAN BCFMs, the as-prepared MWCNTs/Ag3PO4/PAN TCFMs showed enhanced photocatalytic activity and stability for degrading rhodamine B (RhB) in batch processing systems, which mainly ascribed to fast electron transfer from Ag3PO4 to MWCNTs and the resulting high electron–hole (e−–h+) separation efficiency. Radical trapping experiments revealed that holes (h+) and superoxide radicals (·O2−) played primary roles in RhB degradation. In addition, the flexible MWCNTs/Ag3PO4/PAN TCFMs also showed potential practical application in the continuous wastewater treatment by a suitable photocatalytic membrane reactor. This work provides a facile approach to prepare flexible supported photocatalytic membrane with visible-light response, high activity and good stability.