PHOTOCATALYTIC DEGRADATION OF DYE OVER GRAPHENE-TiO₂NANOCOMPOSITE

Abstract

In this work the sol-gel method was used to synthesize a nanocomposite containing TiO2 and graphene oxide (GO). The photocatalytic activity of the TiO2/GO nanocomposite was evaluated regarding the degradation of a reactive dye (reactive black 5) in aqueous solution using processes assisted by UV-A radiation. Under these conditions the nanocomposite showed higher degradation efficiency than the reference photocatalyst (Degussa P25 TiO2), mainly due to the high degradation capacity of the synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles. Although contradictory to several reports in the specialized literature, no synergistic effect was observed between the nanocomposite components.