Preparation, characterization and investigation of sonophotocatalytic activity of thulium titanate/polyaniline nanocomposites in degradation of dyes

Abstract

Thulium titanate/polyaniline nanocomposites were synthesized to observe the sonophotocatalytic degradation of dyes (widely used as a model pollutant) under ultrasonic irradiation and visible light. Based on our results, the synthesis process can improve sol-gel assisted sonochemical method in the presence of ultrasound and starch. To prepare pure thulium titanate nanostructures, the presence of starch and sonication treatment were concurrently obligatory. Therefore, sol-gel assisted sonochemical method can be used as a successful process for synthesis of thulium titanate nanostructures. According to the BET results, in the presence of ultrasound and starch surface area increased from 9.5305 m2/g to 40.28 m2/g. For verification of photacatalytic behavior of nanoparticles, several factors were studied. The nanocomposites/ultrasonic system showed greater photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Rh B rather than separately treatment of nanocomposites under visible light.