Abstract

We have studied a method for the preparation of <TEX>$ACF/TiO_2$</TEX> composites involving the penetrationof titanium n-butoxide (TNB) solution into activated carbon fiber. It was focused on the characterization of <TEX>$TiO_2$</TEX> formed in prorous carbon was which increased with surface functional groups by hydrochloric acid treatment. The conversion of TNB to <TEX>$TiO_2$</TEX> for the acid treatment effect must be important for the preparationof <TEX>$ACF/TiO_2$</TEX> composites. From the characterization of surface properties, both the BET surface area and the total pore volume decreased as the distribution of <TEX>$TiO_2$</TEX> on the activated carbon fiber surfaces after acid treatments.The changes in XRD pattern showed the typical anatase type on <TEX>$ACF/TiO_2$</TEX> composite for the sample named FT, FT1 and FT2 treated with 0.05, 0.1 and 0.5 M, respectively. However, XRD patern of FT3 treated with 0.5M showed mixed amatase-rutile structure. According to the results of SEM micrographs, the titanium complexe particles were irregularly distributed around carbon. And some large clusters were found when an amount of acid treatment increased. The EDX results of <TEX>$ACF/TiO_2$</TEX> composites showed the presence of C, O and P with strong Ti peaks. Finally, the excellent photocatalytic activity of the <TEX>$ACF/TiO_2$</TEX> composites between relative concentration(<TEX>$c/c_o$</TEX>) of MB (methylene blue) and UV irradiation time could be attributed to the both effects between photocatalysis of the formation of titania complexes and adsorptivity of the activated carbon fiber.