New insight for enhancing photocatalytic activity of MWCNT/TiO2 by decorating palladium nanoparticles as charge-transfer channel

A surface bond-grafted multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/TiO2 as supporter, palladium nanoparticles, approximately 3 nm in diameter, are uniformly deposited on the functional MWCNT surface in first, constructing a novel Pd-MWCNT/TiO2 photocatalyst for photocatalytic solar conversion. The characterization of photocatalysts by a series of joint techniques, including BET surface area, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), Raman spectroscopy and ultraviolet/visible (UV/vis) diffuse reflectance spectra, discloses that palladium nanoparticles has a crucial role in enhancement of photocatalytic activity of MWCNT/TiO2, that is to act as a charge transfer channel, which helps to trap electrons from MWCNT to TiO2.

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► A new insight for further improving photoactivity of MWCNT/TiO2 was reported.
► The Pd as charge transfer channel trap electrons from MWCNT to TiO2 surface.
► The Pd content can also influence photoactivity of MWCNT/TiO2 photocatalyst.
► The approach is practically usable for other nanocarbon/semiconductor materials.