Titania/carbon nanotube composite (TiO2/CNT) and its application for removal of organic pollutants

This review aimed to highlight recent development in the preparation of titania/carbon nanotube composite (TiO2/CNT) and its application for the removal of organic pollutants in aqueous solution. Current studies indicate that the composite can enhance the absorption of visible light compared with pure TiO2. Generally, synergistic effects were observed for the degradation of some dyes, phenols, and benzene derivatives. The role of CNTs in the composite was explained to function as a support material, concentrate organic pollutants on the composite surface and more importantly, to extend electron-hole (e-h) recombination time as electron scavenger. However, opposite effects were observed for the degradation of some pharmaceuticals (e.g., carbamazepine and diclofenac). Despite different mechanisms involved, most organic pollutants can be photocatalytically degraded within a few minutes or hours. The summarized results and raised issues in this review will attract more future research for this new photocatalyst, particularly in areas such as synthesis methods, degradation mechanisms, and performance for more diversified structures of organic compounds.