Manufacturing Titanium Dioxide (Anatase and Rutile) Nanoparticles on the Surface of Reduced Graphene Oxide

Abstract

A method has been developed for synthesizing composites of titanium oxide nanoparticles (anatase and rutile) on the surface of reduced graphene oxide flakes in supercritical isopropanol. Supercritical isopropanol acts in synthesis not only as a reducing agent but also as a reaction medium, while reducing graphene oxide. After treatment in supercritical isopropanol, anatase and rutile nanoparticles are deposited onto the graphene surface, retaining dispersion and slightly increasing in size. The resulting nanocomposites have been characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The average size of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on the surface of graphene oxide is 7–9 nm in the case of anatase and 200–220 nm in the case of rutile.