Controlled synthesis of MWCNTs/V₂O₅ nanocomposite by hydrothermal approach for adsorption and photodegradation...

The current paper outlines the synthesis of pristine multi-wall carbon nanotubes (PMWCNTs)/Vanadium pentoxide V₂O₅ and functionalized multi-wall carbon nanotubes (FMWCNTs)/V₂O₅ nanocomposite for photocatalytic applications. The FMWCNTs were obtained by the oxidizing agents (H₂SO₄ and HNO₃) to introduce the oxygenated functional groups. The samples were synthesized by hydrothermal approach and investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis (EDX), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The photocatalytic activity of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), FMWCNTs/V₂O₅, and PMWCNTs/V₂O₅ nanocomposites was assessed via methylene blue (MB) degradation from water under visible light. The results demonstrated that the removal efficiency of MB by PMWCNTs, FMWCNTs/V₂O₅, and PMWCNTs/V₂O₅ could reach 90.4, 98.9, and 94.9%, respectively. It was noticed that MB adsorption and photodegradation tend to follow pseudo-second-order kinetics. The mechanism of MB photodegradation by FMWCNTs/V₂O₅ nanoparticles was explained. MWCNTs/V₂O₅ nanocomposites will allow further applications to remove other dyes and contaminants from wastewater.