Facile Low-Temperature Synthesis and Photocatalytic Activity of Graphene Oxide/TiO2 Composite

Abstract

Abstract Graphene (oxide)/TiO2 composite materials have attracted widespread attention because of their scientific and technological importance as, for example, photocatalysts or electronic materials. These composites are usually prepared using high-temperature and/or slow synthetic procedures such as the hydrothermal method. Here, we demonstrate a low-temperature and relatively rapid synthesis of a graphene oxide/TiO2 composite. Graphene oxide sheets decorated with anatase TiO2 nanoparticles are successfully obtained by refluxing graphene oxide sheets dispersed in an aqueous TiOSO4 ethanol solution at 80 °C for 2 h. The graphene oxide is reduced during photocatalytic reduction of the TiO2 deposited on the surface of the graphene oxide. The reduced graphene oxide/TiO2 composite shows very high photocatalytic activity as compared with pure TiO2 and nonreduced graphene oxide/TiO2.