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Titania nanoparticles are intensely studied for photodegradation applications. Control of nanoscale morphology and microstructural properties of these materials is critical for photocatalytic performance. Uniform anatase-type TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared by the sol-gel process using titanium isopropoxide as precursor. Controlled annealing up to 400 °C established crystallization and particle size ranging between 20 and 30 nm. Detailed thermal examination reveals that anatase phase transformation into rutile is affected by the annealing temperature and by the initial particle size. The anatase to rutile phase transformation occurs in the nanoparticles at 550 °C. The Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence (TXRF) study of the anatase nanoparticles shows a shift towards higher energy in the Ka Ti line of 10 eV, related to structural defects. These features were discussed in the photocatalytic behavior of several cement-based materials modified with the so-prepared anatase nanoparticles. The photocatalytic activity of the anatase-type TiO2/cement mortar system is evaluated from the degradation of Methylene Blue (MB) under UV irradiation, monitored through the absorbance at 665 nm. The results show that the photocatalytic composites exhibit up to 76.6% degradation efficiency. Mechanical testing of the nano-TiO2 modified cementitious composites evinces a moderate reinforcement of the strength properties at long ages.

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This work aims to investigate the effects of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the strength and electrical properties of cement mortar. MWCNTs were added to cement mortar in four different concentrations: 0.00 wt.%, 0.01 wt.%, 0.015 wt.%, and 0.02 wt.% by the mass of cement. The consistency, density, setting time and compressive and flexural strength of mixes were tested and analyzed at 28 and 90 days curing time. Mechanical performance tests confirm an increase of 25% and 20% in the ultimate compressive and flexural strength respectively, which results from MWCNT 0.02 wt.% loading at 90 days curing time. The resistivity measurements in mortars with 0.01 and 0.015 wt.% MWCNT loading result up to 10% decrement at both 28 and 90 days curing. Activation energy calculations show fully accordance with these statements, resuming that 0.01 wt.% MWCNT appears to be the most effective loading scheme to produce certain conductivity enhancement in cement mortar.

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