Fabrication and characterization of ZnO/MWCNTs with enhanced photocatalytic activity

Abstract

Composite of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and zinc oxide (ZnO) were prepared by the sol-gel method. The photocatalytic function of the MWCNTs/ZnO was validated for cyanide degradation as a model of organic pollutant under irradiation of visible light. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, specific surface area measurement, energy dispersive X-ray spectrum analysis, transmission electron microscopy and UV-visible absorption spectra. The results show that the ZnO/ MWCNTs composites (4 % mass ratio of MWCNTs) exhibits much higher photocatalytic activity than other ratios and in addition higher than that of TiO2 (P-25). The promotion is mainly contributed from electron transfer between ZnO and MWCNT.