Speaker
Ms
Xiluva Mathebula
(University Of The Witwatersrand)
Description
Textile industries are amongst the top environs of water polluters. They release complex organic pollutants (such as organic dyes) that are resistant to conventional water purification methods. Lately, TiO2-based photocatalytic degradation method has been successfully used to ravage the organic dye pollutants in aqueous medium at a low cost. However, the efficiency and turnover number of TiO2 is limited due to its low surface area, sintering, and the electron-hole recombination. Thus, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) can be used to enhance the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 by increasing the catalyst surface area and also acting as photo-generated electron capturers. Moreover, the MWCNTs can be modified with nitrogen dopants to create more defects on the carbon lattice and a net positive charge to strengthen the TiO2-C interaction. We herein report on the competence of CVD-synthesized nitrogen doped MWCNTs (N-MWCNTs) in the enhancement of TiO2 photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methyl violet. Our results showed that N-MWCNTs supported TiO2 photocatalyst exhibit a large surface area, good TiO2-C interaction, and a reduction in the electron-hole recombination. Consequently, the photocatalytic activity of raw TiO2 was drastically increased after the inclusion of N-MWCNTs. Furthermore, the N-MWCNTs showed a great potential of improving the photocatalytic stability of TiO2 and its reusability.
Supervisor details<br><b>If not a student, type N/A.</b><br>Student abstract submision<br>requires supervisor permission:<br>please give their name,<br> institution and email address.
Supervisor: DR Z.N. Tetana
Institution: Witwatersrand University
E: zikhonatetana@wits.ac.za
Co-supervisor: Prof N. Moloto
Institution: Witwatersrand University
E: nosipho.moloto@wits.ac.za
| Please confirm that you<br>have carefully read the<br>abstract submission instructions<br>under the menu item<br>"Call for Abstracts"<br><b>(Yes / No)</b> | Yes |
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| Consideration for<br>student awards<br><b>Choose one option<br>from those below.</b><br>N/A<br>Hons<br>MSc<br>PhD | MSc |
Primary author
Ms
Xiluva Mathebula
(University Of The Witwatersrand)
Co-authors
Prof.
Nosipho Moloto
(University Of The Witwatersrand)
Dr
Zikhona Tetana
(Centre of Excellence-Strong materials)
