AC and ZnS modified TiO2 composites (AC/ZnS/TiO2) were prepared using a sol-gel method. The composite obtained was characterized by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area measurements, X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis, and according to the UV-vis absorption spectra (UV-vis). XRD patterns of the composites showed that the AC/ZnS/TiO2 composites contain a typical single and clear anatase phase. The surface properties as observed by SEM present the characterization of the texture of the AC/ZnS/TiO2 composites, showing a homogenous composition in the particles showing the micro-surface structures and morphology of the composites. The EDX spectra of the elemental identification showed the presence of C and Ti with Zn and S peaks for the AC/ZnS/TiO2 composite. UV-vis patterns of the composites showed that these composites had greater photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation. A rhodamine B (Rh.B) solution under visible light irradiation was used to determine the photocatalytic activity. The degradation of Rh.B was determined using UV/Vis spectrophotometry. An increase in the photocatalytic activity was observed. From the photocatalytic results, the excellent activity of the Y-fullerene/TiO2 composites for the degradation of methylene blue under visible irradiation could be attributed to an increase in the photo-absorption effect caused by the ZnS and to the cooperative effect of the AC.

In this study, we used coal-based activated carbons and charcoal as startingmaterials, phenolic resin (PR) as a binder, and TOS as a titanium source to prepare TiO2 combining spherical shaped activated carbon photocatalysts. The textural properties of the activated carbon photocatalysts (SACP) were characterized by specific surface area (BET), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), iodine adsorption, strength intensity, and pressure drop. The photocatalytic activities of the SACPs were characterized by degradation of the organic dyes Methylene Blue (MB), Methylene Orange (MO), and Rhodamine B (Rh. B) and a chemical oxygen demand (COD) experiment. The surface properties are shown by SEM. The XRD patterns of the composites showed that the SACP composite contained a typical single, clear anatase phase. The EDX spectro for the elemental indentification showed the presence of C and O with Ti peaks. According to the results, the spherical activated carbon photocatalysts sample of AOP prepared with activated carbon formed the best spherical shape, a high BET surface area, iodine adsorption capability and strength value, and the lowest pressure drop, and the photocatalytic activity was better than samples prepared with charcoal. We compared the degradation effects among three kinds of dyes. MB solution degraded with the SACP is better than any other dye solutions.

The composite photocatalysts of a Fe-modified carbon nanotube (CNT)-TiO2 were synthesized by a two-step sol-gel method at high temperature. Its chemical composition and surface properties were investigated by BET surface area, scanning electron microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. The results showed that the BET surface area was improved by modification of Fe, which was related to the adsorption capacity for each composite. Interesting thin layer aggregates of nanosized TiO2 were observed from TEM images, probably stabilized by the presence of CNT, and the surface and structural characterization of the samples was carried out. The XRD results showed that the Fe/CNT-TiO2 composites contained a mix of anatase and rutile forms of TiO2 particles when the precursor is TiOSO4·xH2O (TOS). An excellent photocatalytic activity of Fe/CNT-TiO2 was obtained for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation. It was considered that Fe cation could be doped into the matrix of TiO2, which could hinder the recombination rate of the excited electrons/holes. The photocatalytic activity of the composites was also found to depend on the presence of CNT. The synergistic effects among the Fe, CNT and TiO2 components were responsible for improving the visible light photocatalytic activity.

In this study, we used activated carbon (AC) and titanium oxysulfate as a titanium precursor to prepare carbon/titania composites. We then mixed it with bentonite in different ratios to make a carbon/titania/bentonite monolith for use in architecture bricks by using Phenolic rosin (PR) as a bonding agent. The physicochemical properties of the prepared composites were analyzed by BET surface area, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), self-cleaning effect and bactericidal tests. The BET surface areas increased as the ratio of carbon/titania composites increased. The SEM microscopy showed that the TiO2 and bentonite were coated on the surface of the AC. The XRD patterns showed a mixture structure of anatase and rutile of TiO2 with a clear SiO2 structure. The EDX spectra of the carbon/titania/bentonite monolith confirmed the presence of various elements, namely C, O, Ti and Si, as well as other, impure elements. Moreover, to determine the self-cleaning effect of the carbon/titania/bentonite monolith, we used methylene blue (MB, C16H18N3S·Cl·3H2O) in an aqueous solution under the irradiation of visible light. Accordingly, all of the samples had excellent degradation of the MB solution. Furthermore, it was observed that the composites with sunlight irradiation had a greater effect on E. coli than any other experimental conditions.