Štengl V., Bakardjieva S., Matys Grygar T., Bludsska J., Kormunda M., TiO2-graphene oxide nanocomposite as advanced photocatalytic materials, Chemistry Central Journal 2013, 7:41 doi:10.1186/1752-153X-7-41

Background

Graphene oxide composites with photocatalysts may exhibit better properties than pure photocatalysts via improvement of their textural and electronic properties.

Results

TiO₂-Graphene Oxide (TiO₂ - GO) nanocomposite was prepared by thermal hydrolysis of suspension with graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets and titania peroxo-complex. The characterization of graphene oxide nanosheets was provided by using an atomic force microscope and Raman spectroscopy. The prepared nanocomposites samples were characterized by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area and Barrett–Joiner–Halenda porosity, X-ray Diffraction, Infrared Spectroscopy, Raman Spectroscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy. UV/VIS diffuse reflectance spectroscopy was employed to estimate band-gap energies. From the TiO₂ - GO samples, a 300 μm thin layer on a piece of glass 10×15 cm was created. The photocatalytic activity of the prepared layers was assessed from the kinetics of the photocatalytic degradation of butane in the gas phase.

Conclusions

The best photocatalytic activity under UV was observed for sample denoted TiGO_100 (k = 0.03012 h^-1), while sample labeled TiGO_075 (k = 0.00774 h^-1) demonstrated the best activity under visible light.