Hydrothermal Synthesis of Graphene-TiO2 Nanotube Composites with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity

• DOI: 10.1021/cs200621c
• Publication Date: 2012-04-18T14:39:16Z
• Authors: Sanjaya D. Perera; Ruperto G. Mariano; Khiem Vu; Nijem Nour; Oliver Seitz; Yves Chabal; Kenneth J. Balkus
• Keywords: Photodegradation; Hydrothermal Synthesis

In this study, TiO2 nanotube (TNT)/reduced graphene oxide (hGO) composites were prepared by an alkaline hydrothermal process. This was achieved decorating (GO) layers with commercially available nanoparticles (P90) followed synthesis, which converts the to small diameter (∼9 nm) TNTs on hGO surface. The medium used synthesize simultaneously GO deoxygenated (hGO). Compared GO, has a ∼70% reduction of oxygenated species after treatment. nature in confirmed X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, FTIR, and photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. photocatalytic performance hGO-TNT evaluated for photodegradation malachite green. It found that ratio TNT significantly affects activity. Higher amounts showed lower activity than pure TNTs. composite 10% highest activity, 3-fold enhancement efficiency over is expected synthesis "high surface area-small diameter" nanotubes simultaneous conversion like "without using strong reducing agents" could be promising strategy preparing other types carbon based photocatalysts.