Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalytic Efficiency of ZnO/MWCNT Nanocomposites Prepared Under Different Solvent Conditions.

Here we report the application of zinc oxide (ZnO) coated multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composites in the photocatalytic decomposition of acetaldehyde (AA). Zinc oxide nanoparticles were successfully coated on the multi-walled carbon nanotube via impregnation process using zinc acetate (Zn(CH₃COO)₂×2H₂O) as precursor and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) treated multiwalled carbon nanotube as raw material under different solvent conditions. The applied solvents during preparation were ethanol (EtOH) and water (H₂O). As-prepared materials were characterized by thermal analysis (TG), X-ray diffraction (XRD), specific surface area measurement (BET) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. Photocatalytic efficiencies of as-prepared composites were investigated in a stationary reactor equipped with UV lamp. Decomposition of acetaldehyde was followed by using gas chromatography (GC). Observations revealed that using impregnation method and different solvents the preparation of ZnO/MWCNT nanocomposites can be controlled easily. The highest degradation rate was achieved with the nanocomposite was synthetized using ethanol as solvent. The photocatalytic experiments revealed that the composite has higher photocatalytic activity than that of both the zinc oxide nanoparticles and the mechanical mixture of multi-walled carbon nanotube and zinc oxide.