Enhancement of the Photocatalytic Activity of Titanium Dioxide-Manganese Nanoparticles Through the Incorporation of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Titanium dioxide manganese/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MTiO₂/x-CNT) nanocomposites were successfully prepared using the sol-gel method by reaction specific amounts of CNT with titanium dioxide and manganese, aiming to shift the band edge toward longer wavelengths and provide more effective separation of electron-hole pairs. The MTiO₂ and MTiO₂/CNTs were then characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV–vis absorption spectra. The results confirm the successful synthesis and the presence of Mn and CNT in the nanocomposite. The photocatalytic performance was evaluated by investigating the removal of methylene blue as an example of organic pollutants. Among the various composites examined, the MTiO₂/CNT (5%) exhibited the best performance in removing MB, with a degradation rate exceeding 92% and a rate constant of 2.59 × 10⁻² min⁻¹. These results suggest that this compound could have potential applications in other fields.