• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.308-313
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• 2014

The effect of electrochemical characteristics of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) upon employing multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) on both working electrode and counter electrode were examined with using EIS, J-V curves and UV-Vis absorption spectrometry. When 0.1 wt% of MWCNT was employed in the $TiO_2$-MWCNT composit on working electrode, the energy conversion efficiency increased about 12.5% compared to the $TiO_2$ only working electrode. The higher light conversion efficiency may attribut to the high electrical conductivity of MWCNT in $TiO_2$-MWCNT composite which improves the electron transport in the working electrode. However, higher amount of MWCNT than 0.1 wt% in the $TiO_2$-MWCNT composite decreases the light conversion efficiency, which is mainly ascribed to the decreased transmittance of light by MWCNT and to the decreased adsorption of dye onto $TiO_2$. The MWCNT employed counter electrode exhibited much lower light conversion efficiency of DSSC than the Pt-counter electrode, while the MWCNT-Pt counter electrode showed similar in light conversion efficiency to that of Pt-counter electrode.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.5-11
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• 2016

$MWCNT-TiO_2$ nano composites and $Ag-MWCNT-TiO_2$ nano composites were prepared from Multi-Walled Carbon NanoTube (MWCNT), titanium (IV) butoxide (TNB) solution and silver nitrate ($AgNO_3$) by the sol-gel method. The dispersion and structure of Ag in the synthesized composites was observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Field Emission Transmission Electron Microscopy (FE-TEM). X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) patterns of the composites showed that the composites contained an anatase phase. The Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) showed the presence of C, O, Ti and Ag peaks. The $TiO_2$ particles were distributed uniformly in the MWCNT network, and Ag particles were virtually fixed on the surface of the tubes. Also decomposition of the methylene blue was investigated according to UV radiation times for study photocatalytic activity. $Ag-MWCNT-TiO_2$ nano composites show high photodegradation than $MWCNT-TiO_2$ nano composites. The results indicate that the high conductivity of Ag improved the photoactivity of the $MWCNT-TiO_2$ composite.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.345-350
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• 2010

For the present paper, we prepared MgO/MWCNT/$TiO_2$ photocatalyst by using multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) pre-oxidized by m-chlorperbenzoic acid (MCPBA) with magnesium acetate tetrahydrate $(Mg(CH_2COO)_2\cdot4H_2O)$ and titanium n-butoxide $(Ti\{OC(CH_3)_3\}_4)$ as magnesium and titanium precursors. The prepared photocatalyst was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The decomposition of methylene blue (MB) solution was determined under irradiation of ultraviolet (UV) light. The XRD results show that the MgO/MWCNT/$TiO_2$ photocatalyst have cubic MgO structure and anatase $TiO_2$ structure. The porous structure and the $TiO_2$ agglomerate coated on the MgO/MWCNT composite can be observed in SEM images. The Mg, O, Ti and C elements can be also observed in MgO/MWCNT/$TiO_2$ photocatalyst from EDX results. The results of photodegradation of MB solution under UV light show that the concentration of MB solution decreased with an increase of UV irradiation time for all of the samples. Also, the MgO/MWCNT/$TiO_2$ photocatalyst has the best photocatalytic activity among these samples. It can be considered that the MgO/MWCNT/$TiO_2$ photocatalyst had a combined effect, the effect of MWCNT, which could absorb UV light to create photoinduced electrons $(e^-)$, and the electron trapping effect of MgO, which resulted in an increase of the photocatalytic activity of $TiO_2$.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.511-517
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• 2012

Pd/MWCNT/$TiO_2$ composites were synthesized by a sol-gel technique using multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), palladium (II) chlorite ($PdCl_2$) and titanium tetrachloride ($TiCl_4$) as the carbon, palladium and titanium precursors. The Pd/MWCNT/$TiO_2$ composites prepared were characterized by BET surface area measurements, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The photocatalytic activity of the composites was evaluated using the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under UV and visible light irradiation as a model.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.251-256
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• 2013

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) modified with Pd and $TiO_2$ composite catalysts were synthesized by the sol-gel method followed by solvothermal treatment at low temperature. The chemical composition and surface structure were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Photocatalytic recycle degradation experiments were carried out under both UV and visible light irradiation in the presence of MWCNT/$TiO_2$ and Pd-MWCNT/$TiO_2$ composites. As expected, the nanosized Pd-MWCNT/$TiO_2$ photocatalysts had enhanced activity over the non Pd treated MWCNT/$TiO_2$ material in the degradation of a rhodamine B (Rh.B) solution. An increase in photocatalytic activity was observed and attributed to an increase in the photo-absorption effect by MWCNTs and the cooperative effect of Pd and $TiO_2$ nanoparticles. According to the recycled results, the as-prepared Pd-MWCNT/$TiO_2$ sample had a good effect on it.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.159-164
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• 2008

Two kinds of CNT/TiO2 composite photocatalysts were synthesized with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and titanium(IV) n-butoxide (TNB) by a MCPBA oxidation method. Since MWCNTs had charge transfer and semiconducting, the CNT/TiO2 composite shows a good photo-degradation activity. The XRD patterns reveal that only anatase phase can be identified for MCT composite, but the HMCT composite synthesized with HCl treatment was observed the mixed phase of anatase and rutile. The EDX spectra were shown the presence as major elements of Ti with strong peaks. From the SEM results, the sample MCT and HMCT synthesized by the thermal decomposition with TNB show a homogenous sample with only individual MWCNTs covered with TiO2 without any jam-like aggregates between CNTs and TiO2. From the photocatalytic results, we could be suggested that the excellent activity of the CNT/TiO2 composites for organic dye and UV irradiation time could be attributed to combination effects between TiO2 and MWCNTs with plausible photodegradation mechanism.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.279-284
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• 2017

The formation mechanism and photocatalytic properties of a multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/$TiO_2$-based nanotube (TNTs) composite are investigated. The CNT/TNT composite is synthesized via a solution chemical route. It is confirmed that this 1-D nanotube composite has a core-shell nanotubular structure, where the TNT surrounds the CNT core. The photocatalytic activity investigated based on the methylene blue degradation test is superior to that of with pure TNT. The CNTs play two important roles in enhancing the photocatalytic activity. One is to act as a template to form the core-shell structure while titanate nanosheets are converted into nanotubes. The other is to act as an electron reservoir that facilitates charge separation and electron transfer from the TNT, thus decreasing the electron-hole recombination efficiency.

• Carbon letters
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.294-297
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• 2008

A CNT-$TiO_2$ nano composite was prepared from titanium chloride ($TiCl_4$) via sol-gel process using multi walled carbon nano tube (MWCNT) followed by calcination at $450^{\circ}C$. Spectral analysis revealed that the formed $TiO_2$ resided on the carbon in anatase form. The effect of adsorption was investigated using aqueous solution of methylene blue and procion blue dye. The photochemical reaction of CNT-$TiO_2$ composite in aqueous suspensions was studied under UV illumination in batch process. The reaction was investigated by monitoring the discoloration of the dyes employing UV-Visible spectro-photometeric technique as a function of irradiation time. The catalyst composites were found to be efficient for the photodegradation of the dye.