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

The current work outlines the synthesis of pristine multi-wall carbon nanotubes (PMWCNTs) and functionalized multi-wall carbon nanotubes (FMWCNTs) based on Vanadium pentoxide (V 2 O 5 ) nanocomposites for photocatalytic applications. The functionalized MWCNTs were obtained by the oxidizing agents (H 2 SO 4 and HNO 3 ) 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). These tools revealed the structure and morphology of the prepared nanocomposites as well as their elemental compositions. The photocatalytic activity of FMWCNTs/V 2 O 5 and PMWCNTs/V 2 O 5 nanocomposites was assessed via Methylene Blue (MB) degradation from water under visible light. The results demonstrated that the removal percentage of FMWCNTs/V 2 O 5 and PMWCNTs/V 2 O 5 could reach 98.9% and 94.9%, respectively. It was noted that MB adsorption and photodegradation tend to follow pseudo-second-order kinetics. The mechanism of MB adsorption by FMWCNTs/ V 2 O 5 nanoparticles was explained. MWCNTs/metal oxide nanocomposites could provide an opportunity for further applications of these nanomaterials to remove other dyes and contaminants from wastewater.