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Synthesis and characterization of TiO2/WO3 composite nanotubes for photocatalytic applications

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Abstract

TiO2/WO3 composite nanotubes were synthesized in an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template by a sol–gel method. The prepared nanotubes were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area. Using the nanotubes embedded in the AAO templates as catalysts, photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange aqueous solution was carried out under UV light irradiation. The results showed that the TiO2/WO3 composite nanotubes with the thickness about 50 nm could be successfully synthesized by this method. TiO2 showed anatase phase and WO3 displayed monoclinic phase. The composite nanotubes (TiO2/WO3) exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than the pure nanotubes (WO3 or TiO2). The possible reason for improving the photocatalytic activity was also discussed.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51272115) and The Scientific Research Encouragement Foundation for Outstanding Young and Middle Aged Scientists of Shandong Province, China (Grant No. BS2013CL025).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Zhengzhou Road 53, Qingdao, 266042, China

    Xiaofei Qu, Dandan Xie, Lei Gao & Fanglin Du

  2. Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Songling Road 238, Qingdao, 266100, China

    Lixin Cao

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  1. Xiaofei Qu
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  2. Dandan Xie
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  3. Lei Gao
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  4. Lixin Cao
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Correspondence to Lixin Cao or Fanglin Du.

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Qu, X., Xie, D., Gao, L. et al. Synthesis and characterization of TiO2/WO3 composite nanotubes for photocatalytic applications. J Mater Sci 50, 21–27 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-014-8441-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-014-8441-7

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