Nanocarbons decorated TiO2 as advanced nanocomposite fabric for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye and ciprofloxacin

• Published in: Diamond and related materials Vol. 148; p. 111435
• Main Authors: Pal, Vinod Kumar, Kumar, Deepak, Gupta, Anshika, Neelratan, Pashupati Pratap, Purohit, L.P., Singh, Arunvir, Singh, Vishal, Lee, Sejoon, Mishra, Yogendra Kumar, Kaushik, Ajeet, Sharma, Sanjeev Kumar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.10.2024
• Subjects: Analytical science; C-based TiO2 nanostructures; Nano-textile fiber membrane; Photocatalytic degradation; Photocatalytic degradation; C-based TiO2 nanostructures; Nano-textile fiber membrane; Analytical science
• ISSN: 0925-9635
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diamond.2024.111435

In this research, C [graphene (Gr), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs)] decorated TiO2 nanostructures were developed and further utilized to modify textile to achieve high-performance photocatalytic degradation of mixed water pollutants including methylene blue (MB) dye and pharmaceutical active compound, Ciprofloxacin (CPF) on solar radiation exposure (∼105 Lumens). The crystallite sizes of TiO2, TiO2-MWCNT, TiO2-SWCNT, and TiO2-Gr nanocomposites were observed in the 7.2–10.4 nm range. The bandgap, Eg of nanostructured C-TiO2, was observed in the 3.09–3.14 eV range. The photocatalytic performance of C-TiO2 showed almost complete removal of MB under the irradiation of the solar spectrum in just 120 min. Among C-based TiO2 nanocomposites, nanostructured TiO2-SWCNT showed the highest degradation efficiency of ∼98.86 % for MB dye. Further, the textile membrane showed a good degradation efficiency of 99.49 % for MB dye and 95.7 % for CPF within 120 min. An impressive removal efficiency of ∼93 % was observed for the mixture of MB and CPF solution due to a combination of several properties like surface groups (OH− & O2−), low charge recombination rate due to CNTs, and small crystal size. This proof-of-the-concept study can be the potential platform to manage water quality according to sustainability goals. [Display omitted] •C-TiO2 (C: 0, Gr, SWCNT, MWCNT) nanocomposites synthesized using hydrothermal at 150 °C.•The formation of TiC and Ti-O-C bonds confirmed the variation of Eg of C-TiO2 (3.09–3.14 eV).•Optimized TiO2-SWCNT deposited on textile membranes using sol-gel dip coating.•TiO2-SWCNT textile membrane showed the highest MB degradation ∼99.49 % under ∼105 solar lumens.•Photocatalytic activity enhanced due to surface groups (OH− & O2−) and low recombination rates.