Enhanced photocatalytic activities of TiO2-reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites controlled by Ti–O–C interfacial chemical bond

Ying Chen, Hongyan Gao, Junjie Xiang, Xinju Dong, Yan Cao

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

46 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this study, a hydrothermal-prepared TiO2-RG nanocomposites series exhibited excellent photocatalytic activities, of which the results can be largely influenced by a Ti–O–C interfacial chemical bond between TiO2 nanoparticles and RG nanosheets. A stirring TiO2-RG sample was prepared as contrast analysis using the same wet process except for heating. The characteristics of the composites were tested by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, FT-IR, Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The photocatalytic properties were verified by UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) testing as well as degrading Rhodamine B (RhB). Our research results show that the better Ti–O–C interfacial chemical bond was formed, the narrower band gap of the nanocomposite was then obtained. The best hydrothermal synthesizing temperature was found out as 120 °C. The TiO2-RG nanocomposite, as inexpensive, nontoxic and highly photo-catalytically active, may let it have a potential use in various photocatalytic applications.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)29-36
Number of pages8
JournalMaterials Research Bulletin
Volume99
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Graphene
  • Interfacial chemical bond
  • Photocatalyst
  • TiO

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