Carbon modified anatase TiO2 for the rapid photo degradation of methylene blue: A comparative study

Activated carbon (AC) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) doped anatase titania were prepared using cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a dispersant and anchoring agent. The XRD and Raman spectroscopy revealed that the carbon doped titania retained its anatase structure, even upon calcination at 500 degrees C. The SEM/TEM images showed that the TiO2 particles were well dispersed with the carbon source. N-2 adsorption-desorption analysis indicates a distinct change in the surface area of the AC doped TiO2 in which the presence of micropores is clearly evident. The photoluminescence analyses showed that doping the titania with carbon enhanced the separation of the charge carriers (e(-)/h(+)), resulting in a lower recombination rate, thus increasing the longevity of the photocatalysts. The XPS peaks at similar to 285 eV showed the presence of carbon. Both AC and CNT doped titania exhibited excellent photocatalytic ability for the degradation of MB under UV irradiation. The carbon doped titania samples also showed high stability under prolonged UV irradiation and could be used up to four cycles without significant loss of catalytic efficiency. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.