Fabrication of V-doped TiO₂ nano-particles loaded multiwall carbon nanotube and investigation of optical and photocatalytic properties

In this work, V-doped TiO2 nano-particles loaded on the multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), BET surface area, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) techniques were utilized to characterization of the prepared samples. The photocatalytic activity of the prepared sample was evaluated through decolorization of reactive red 198 under visible light irradiations. The XRD patterns presented that the V-doped TiO2 loaded on the MWCNT contained just anatase phase. The surface area of the TiO2 increased from 48 m2 g−1 to 71 m2 g−1 through the construction of the nano-composite. The FE-SEM images of the samples detected that the V doped TiO2 particles were deposited homogeneously on the MWCNT surface whilst the average size of the particles was 25 nm. DRS illustrated that the absorption edge of the TiO2 shifted to the visible region during V doping and MWCNT loading. The obtained photocatalytic results indicated that during visible light irradiation (300 min), the reactive red 198 decolorized around 66% and 27% in the presence of the V-doped TiO2 loaded MWCNT and TiO2, respectively.