Gadolinium oxide decorated multiwalled carbon nanotube/tridoped titania nanocomposites for improved dye degradation under simulated solar light irradiation

•MWCNT-Gd/tridoped titania was successfully prepared via a sol-gel method.•XPS revealed the presence of Ti, C, O, S, N and Gd in MWCNT-Gd/Gd,N,S-TiO2.•MWCNT-Gd/Gd,N,S-TiO2 displayed 100% degradation of acid blue 74 in 150 min.•Over 60% TOC removal by MWCNT-Gd/Gd,N,S-TiO2.

Neodymium/gadolinium/europium, nitrogen and sulphur tridoped titania (Nd/Gd/Eu, N,S-TiO2) was hybridised with pre-synthesised gadolinium oxide decorated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-Gd) using a sol–gel method. Subsequent to drying and calcination, composite photocatalysts: MWCNT-Gd/Nd,N,S-TiO2, MWCNT-Gd/Gd,N,S-TiO2 and MWCNT-Gd/Eu,N,S-TiO2, were obtained and characterised using TEM, SEM-EDX, UV–vis, XPS, XRD and FT-IR. Acid blue 74 (AB74) was used as a model dye to investigate the photocatalytic degradation properties of the prepared materials under simulated solar light irradiation. Coupling the different tridoped titania with MWCNT-Gd enhanced their activity compared to MWCNT/TiO2, MWCNT-Gd/TiO2 and MWCNT/Gd,N,S-TiO2. MWCNT-Gd/Gd,N,S-TiO2 showed the highest activity towards AB74 degradation reaching 100% decolourisation after 150 min of irradiation. Total organic carbon analysis revealed that over 50% of the AB74 molecules were completely mineralised after 180 min of irradiation in the presence of MWCNT-Gd/Gd,N,S-TiO2.

Graphical abstractIllustration of the collaborative effect between MWCNT-Gd and Gd,N,S-TiO2 towards degradation of AB 74.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide