Microwave-assisted Synthesis of Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube–Titanium Dioxide Hybrid Structure and Photodegradation

Yuyun Irmawati (Research Center for Advanced Materials, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Kawasan Puspiptek, Gd. 440-441, Serpong, Tangerang Selatan 15314, Indonesia)
Shofia Manzalini (Physics Department, UIN Sunan Gunung Djati, Jalan A.H. Nasution Rd., Cibiru-Bandung 40614, Indonesia)
Bambang Sugeng (Research Center for Advanced Materials, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Kawasan Puspiptek, Gd. 440-441, Serpong, Tangerang Selatan 15314, Indonesia)
Sudirman Sudirman (Research Center for Advanced Materials, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Kawasan Puspiptek, Gd. 440-441, Serpong, Tangerang Selatan 15314, Indonesia)
Harayasu Asahara (Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan)
Rike Yudianti (Research Center for Advanced Materials, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Kawasan Puspiptek, Gd. 440-441, Serpong, Tangerang Selatan 15314, Indonesia)

Journal of Engineering and Technological Sciences
Vol. 54 No. 4 (2022)

Decoration of a functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube (f-MWCNT) surface with titanium dioxide (TiO2) was designed to improve its photocatalytic degradation performance. Structural decoration was achieved by microwave heating at various mass ratios (1:2; 1:4; 1:8; 1:16 wt.%) of titanium (IV) isopropoxide as precursor. The hybrid structure of TiO2/f-MWCNT was characterized by scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The crystallite form of the TiO2 nanoparticles was further studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and HR–TEM. We report the conformation of high-density TiO2 coated on an f-MWCNT surface at a mass ratio of 1:16 wt.%. XRD analysis revealed a structural transformation from mixture phase (anatase–brookite) at mass ratios of 1:2 and 1:4 wt.% to fully anatase phase for mass ratios of 1:8 and 1:16 wt.%. The transformation was also confirmed by selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and HR–TEM analysis. Our results showed that anatase phase plays a significant role in photodegradation activity.