Synthesis, Comparative Characterization and Photocatalytic Application of SnO2/MWCNT Nanocomposite Materials

Two different preparation methods were developed to cover successfully multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) with tin-dioxide (SnO 2 ) nanoparticles using SnCl 2 I‡2H 2 O as precursor under different solvent conditions. The applied mass ratios of the components were 1:4, 1:8, 1:16, 1:32 and 1:64, respectively. As-prepared tin-dioxide coverages were characterized by TEM, SEM, SEM-EDX, Raman microscopy, BET and X-ray diffraction techniques. Photocatalytic efficiencies of selected composites were investigated in a self-made photoreactor, equipped with UV-A fluorescence lamps. Photocatalytic degradation of phenol solution was followed by using HPLC. Observations revealed that using hydrothermal method we can easily control the layer of SnO 2 nanoparticles on the surface of MWCNTs. Using various solvents SnO 2 nanoparticles with different morphologies formed. The nanocomposites have low photocatalytic efficiencies under conditions used generally (when I»>300 nm).