A facile ball-milling method to combine carbon nanotubes and commercial TiO2 towards nitrogen oxide photocatalytic removal

Traditional TiO2 semiconductoris a promising photocatalyst. However, the extended application of this material for nitrogen oxide (NO) removal under sunlight conditions is becoming an emerging topic in materials science. Combining and modifying TiO2 with carbon materials such as carbon nanotube (CNT) towards applying a promising photocatalyst for gas pollution treatment have received much more significant attention. Herein, we combine and optimize CNT and commercial TiO2 by a ball-milling method towards a better photocatalyst in solar light driven. The analysis results indicated the existence of spherical TiO2 particles with an average diameter of 80-100 nm and CNT with a length and diameter of several nanometers and approximately 8-10 nm in the composites. The photocatalytic NO evaluation under a natural environment simulation model indicates that 0.7%wt CNT in CNT/TiO2 composite (0.7CT sample) achieves the most excellent photocatalysis. The CNT/TiO2 composites also express high stability. However, the CNT/TiO2 composite still has a limitation with a high NO to NO2 conversion yield.

Automated summary

Traditional TiO2 semiconductor is a promising photocatalyst, but its application for NO removal under sunlight conditions is gaining attention in materials science. Combining and optimizing TiO2 with carbon materials, such as CNT, have received significant attention for gas pollution treatment. The combination of CNT and commercial TiO2 by ball-milling results in spherical TiO2 particles with an average diameter of 80-100 nm and CNT with a length and diameter of several nanometers and approximately 8-10 nm in the composites. The 0.7%wt CNT in the CNT/TiO2 composite achieves the best photocatalysis for NO removal in a natural environment simulation model.