Preparation of C₆₀ Nanowhiskers/WO₃ Nanocomposites and Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Dyes

Abstract

C 60 nanowhiskers were synthesized from C 60 by liquid-liquid interfacial precipitation (LLIP) using C 60 -saturated toluene and isopropyl alcohol. The WO 3 nanoparticles were synthesized by adding 3.8 × 10 −4 mole amount of ammonium metatungstate hydrate (H 26 N 6 O 40 W 12 ·H 2 O) to 500 ml of distilled water, and the resulting solution was heated on a hot plate for 4 h. The C 60 nanowhiskers/WO 3 nanocomposites were prepared with C 60 nanowhiskers and WO 3 nanoparticles in an electric furnace at 700°C in an argon gas atmosphere for 2 h. The C 60 nanowhiskers/WO 3 nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. UV-vis spectroscopy was used to evaluate the performance of the C 60 nanowhiskers/WO 3 nanocomposites as a photocatalyst in the degradation of organic dyes, such as methylene blue (MB) and brilliant green (BG) under ultraviolet light (254 nm).