• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.554-560
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• 2009

We investigate a method for the electrochemical preparation of titanium dioxide/carbon nanotube ($TiO_2$/CNT) composites involving the electroplating of Ti in a titanium n-butoxide (TNB) electrolyte into a CNT matrix. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface areas of $TiO_2$/CNT composites decrease as the electrochemical operating time increases. Changes in XRD patterns show a typical anatase type on the $TiO_2$/CNT composite prepared with a CNT matrix by the electroplating method in a TNB solution. In SEM micrographs, the titanium complex particles are uniformly distributed on the CNT surface. The results of chemical elemental analysis for the $TiO_2$/CNT composites show that most of the spectra for these samples produce stronger peaks for carbon and Ti metal than for any other element. Finally, the prominent photoelectrocatalytic activities of the $TiO_2$/CNT composites can be attributed to the combined effects of photodegradation of $TiO_2$, electron assistance of CNT, and the application of a sufficient voltage.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.357-364
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• 2009

We investigate a method for the electrochemical preparation of titanium dioxide/carbon nanotube ($TiO_2$/CNT) composites involving the electroplating of Ti in a titanium n-butoxide (TNB) electrolyte into a CNT matrix. The BET surface areas of $TiO_2$/CNT composites decreased as electrochemical operating time increased. Changes in XRD patterns showed a typical anatase type on the $TiO_2$/CNT composite prepared with a CNT matrix by the electroplating method in the TNB solution. In SEM micrographs, the titanium complex particles were uniformly distributed on the CNT surface. The results of chemical elemental analysis for the $TiO_2$/CNT composites showed that most of the spectra for these samples produced stronger peaks for carbon and Ti metal than those of any other element. Finally, the prominent photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) activities of the $TiO_2$/CNT composites could be attributed to the combined effects of photodegradation of $TiO_2$, electron assistance of CNT and the application of a sufficient voltage.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.509-513
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• 2020

The performance of TiO₂ microcones/CNT composites as an anode material for lithium ion batteries was investigated. TiO₂ microcones/CNT composites were prepared by the polarization followed by electrophoretic deposition approaches on anodic TiO₂ microcones, which were composed of individual nanofragments resulting in a large surface area where lithium ion can be stored. Compared to pristine TiO₂ microcones, TiO₂ microcones/CNT composite electrodes showed higher areal capacity with a stable cyclability due to an enhanced electrical and lithium ion conductivity. Furthermore, TiO₂ microcones/CNT composite electrodes exhibited good cycle life characteristics and excellent rate retention under a high current density of up to 20 C.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.58-62
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• 2010

CNT-$TiO_{2}$ nano complexes were prepared from $TiOSO_4$ and multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) by hydrolysis. The CNTs were dispersed uniformly with anatase $TiO_{2}$ in the prepared $TiO_{2}$-CNT complexes. The increasing MWCNT ratio leads to increased crystalline carbon and O/Ti ratio. The decomposition degree of methylene blue was experienced according to UV radiation time for study adsorption and photocatalytic activity. The samples having high MWCNT ratio show high adsorption and photodegradation. The high specific surface area, functional group having oxygen, low band gap energy, high electric conductivity, high volume to surface ratio, uniform structure and properties of MWCNT assist photocatalytic activity of CNT-$TiO_{2}$ complex.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.1981-1987
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• 2010

A novel composite (Ag-CNT/$TiO_2$) of silver treated carbon nanotubes (Ag-CNT) and $TiO_2$ was synthesized via wet chemistry followed by a heat treatment. The dispersion and structure of the silver in the synthesized composites determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy(TEM). XRD patterns of the composites showed that the composites contained a mixing anatase and rutile phase. The EDX spectra showed the presence of C, O, Ti and Ag peaks. The $TiO_2$ particles were distributed uniformly in the CNT network, and silver particles were virtually fixed on the surface of the tube. The photocatalysis degraded behaviors of the Ag-CNT/$TiO_2$ composites of the methylene blue, which increased with an increase of the silver component. The Ag-CNT/$TiO_2$ composites have excellent antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli (E. Coli), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. Aeru) and Bacillus subtilis (B. Sub) under visible light.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2010

In this paper, three types of CNT/$TiO_2$ composite electrodes were prepared with different methods. The changes in XRD patterns showed that the Electrode A contained a mixed phase of anatase and rutile while the Electrode B and Electrode C contained a typical single and clear anatase crystal structure. From SEM micrographs, $TiO_2$ particles were adhered on the surface of the CNT network in the forms of small clusters. The results of chemical elemental analysis indicated that the main elements such as C, O and Ti were existed. The results demonstrated that the efficiency of photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) oxidation for methylene blue (MB) was higher than that of photocatalytic (PC) oxidation. There was a clear enhancement trend of the MB degradation using the prepared CNT/$TiO_2$ composite electrodes with an increase of applied potential. Finally, the prominent PEC activities of the CNT/$TiO_2$ composites could be attributed to combination effects of photo-degradation of $TiO_2$, electron assistant of CNT and function of applied potential.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.117-124
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• 2010

Titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) particles deposited on different quantitative Fe-treated carbon nanotube (CNT) composites with high photocatalytic activity of visible light were prepared by a modified sol-gel method using TNB as a titanium source. The composites were characterized by BET, XRD, SEM, TEM and EDX, which showed that the BET surface area was related to the adsorption capacity for each composite. From TEM images, surface and structural characterization of for the CNT surface had been carried out. The XRD results showed that the Fe-ACF/$TiO_2$ composite mostly contained an anatase structure with a Fe-mediated compound. EDX results showed the presence of C, O, and Ti with Fe peaks in the Fe-CNT/$TiO_2$ composites. The photocatalytic activity of the composites was examined by degradation of methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solution under visible light, which was found to depend on the amount of CNT. The highest photocatalytic activity among the different composites was related to the optimal content of CNT in the Fe-CNT/$TiO_2$ composites. In particular, the photocatalytic activity of the Fe-CNT/$TiO_2$ composites under visible light was better than that of the CNT/$TiO_2$ composites due to the introduction of Fe particles.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.246-251
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• 2010

The composite photocatalysts of a Fe-modified carbon nanotube (CNT)-$TiO_2$ were synthesized by a two-step sol-gel method at high temperature. Its chemical composition and surface properties were investigated by BET surface area, scanning electron microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. The results showed that the BET surface area was improved by modification of Fe, which was related to the adsorption capacity for each composite. Interesting thin layer aggregates of nanosized $TiO_2$ were observed from TEM images, probably stabilized by the presence of CNT, and the surface and structural characterization of the samples was carried out. The XRD results showed that the Fe/CNT-$TiO_2$ composites contained a mix of anatase and rutile forms of $TiO_2$ particles when the precursor is $TiOSO_4{\cdot}xH_2O$ (TOS). An excellent photocatalytic activity of Fe/CNT-$TiO_2$ was obtained for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation. It was considered that Fe cation could be doped into the matrix of $TiO_2$, which could hinder the recombination rate of the excited electrons/holes. The photocatalytic activity of the composites was also found to depend on the presence of CNT. The synergistic effects among the Fe, CNT and $TiO_2$ components were responsible for improving the visible light photocatalytic activity.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.458-465
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• 2016

A $TiO_2$/CNT nanohybrid photocatalyst is synthesized via sol-gel route, with titanium (IV) isopropoxide and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as the starting materials. The microstructures and phase constitution of the nanohybrid $TiO_2$/CNT (0.005wt%) samples after calcination at $450^{\circ}C$, $550^{\circ}C$ and $650^{\circ}C$ in air are compared with those of pure $TiO_2$ using field-emission scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. In addition, the photocatalytic activity of the nanohybrid is compared with that of pure $TiO_2$ with regard to the degradation of methyl orange under visible light irradiation. The $TiO_2$/CNT composite exhibits a fast grain growth and phase transformation during calcination. The nanocomposite shows enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation in comparison to pure $TiO_2$ owing to not only better adsorption capability of CNT but also effective electron transfer between $TiO_2$ and CNTs. However, the high calcination temperature of $650^{\circ}C$, regardless of addition of CNT, causes a decrease in photocatalytic activity because of grain growth and phase transformation to rutile. These results such as fast phase transformation to rutile and effective electron transfer are related to carbon doping into $TiO_2$.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.583-591
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• 2008

In this study, two series of CNT/$TiO_2$ electrodes were prepared. The decrease of surface area compared with that of the pristine carbon nanotubes (CNTs) indicated the blocking of micropores on the surface of the CNTs; was further supported by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and field emission SEM (FE-SEM) observations. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed that the CNT/$TiO_2$ composites contained a mix of anatase and rutile forms of $TiO_2$ particles when the precursor was $TiO_2$ powder, whereas when the precursor was Ti ($OC_4H_7$) (TNB), the composites contained only the typical single and clear anatase $TiO_2$ particles. The energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) spectra showed the presence of C, O and Ti peaks for all samples. It was found that catalytic decomposition of methylene blue (MB) solution could be attributed to synthetic effects between the $TiO_2$ photocatalysis and electro-assisted CNTs network, and that photoelectrocatalytic oxidation increased with an increase of CNT composition. It was also found that the photoelectrocatalytic oxidation efficiency for MB is higher than that of photocatalytic oxidation. Moreover, the CNT/$TiO_2$ composites catalyst prepared by the impregnation method demonstrates higher photoelectrocatalytic activity than the mechanical mixture with the same CNT content.