Abstract:
This study considers the effect of various doses of electron irradiation on the crystal structure
and properties of composite catalysts based on polyethylene terephthalate track-etched membranes
and copper nanotubes. Copper nanotubes were obtained by electroless template synthesis and
irradiated with electrons with 3.8 MeV energy in the dose range of 100–250 kGy in increments of 50 kGy.
The original and irradiated samples of composites were investigated by X-ray diffraction technique
(XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The improved
catalytic activity of composite membranes with copper nanotubes was demonstrated by the example
of the reduction reaction of p-nitrophenol in the presence of sodium borohydride. Irradiation with
electrons at doses of 100 and 150 kGy led to reaction rate constant increases by 35 and 59%, respectively,
compared to the non-irradiated sample. This enhancing catalytic activity could be attributed to the
changing of the crystallite size of copper, as well as the surface roughness of the composite membrane.
