Journal of Advanced Materials in Engineering (Esteghlal)

TiO₂/MWCNT nanocomposite thin films containing different percentages of multi-walled carbon nanotubes were coated on fluorinated tin oxide substrates by sol-gel dip coating method. Results of X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the crystal structure of the coatings was anatase TiO₂. It was also understood that the size of crystallites reduced with CNT but structural properties and equilibrium phase remain intact. Field emission scanning electron microscope images showed that CNTs dispersed uniformly among 45 nm spherical TiO₂ particles of close relations. These images also showed that CNT promoted cracks on the coated surface. Results of the UV-Vis spectroscopy showed that the visible light range adsorption  increased with CNT and the absorption edge did not significantly differ with the pure TiO₂ layers.. Results of the photoluminescence spectroscopy revealed that the presence of CNT could reduce the pair electron–electron holes recombination which is considered totally undesirable.