Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity of Some TiO2/Carbon Composites

Anatase-type TiO2 composites with various allotropic forms of carbon (carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers and activated carbon) were prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption, thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The synthesis of TiO2/carbon composites was carried out by using acid-catalyzed sol-gel method, followed by drying in supercritical 2-propanol. The weight ratio mTiO2/mcarbon was 4 in all prepared samples. In order to compare the photoactivity of different catalysts, the phenol degradation was employed as a test reaction