Enhanced Photocatalytic Property of Reduced Graphene Oxide/TiO2 Nanobelt Surface Heterostructures Constructed by an In Situ Photochemical Reduction Method. Issue 18 (30th May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sang, Yuanhua; Zhao, Zhenhuan; Tian, Jian; Hao, Pin; Jiang, Huaidong; Liu, Hong; Claverie, Jerome P.
• Is Part Of: Small. Volume 10:Issue 18(2014:Sep.)
• Page Start: 3775
• Page End: 3782
• Publication Date: 2014-05-30
• Subjects: Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanoparticles -- Periodicals; Microtechnology -- Periodicals; 620.5
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.201303489
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1613-6810

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>A facile method is proposed to assemble graphene oxide (GO) on the surface of a TiO₂ nanobelt followed by an in situ photocatalytic reduction to form reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/TiO₂ nanobelt surface heterostructures. The special colloidal properties of GO and TiO₂ nanobelt are exploited as well as the photocatalytic properties of TiO₂. Using water–ethanol solvent mixtures, GO nanosheets are tightly wrapped around the surface of the TiO₂ nanobelts through an aggregation process and are then reduced in situ under UV‐light irradiation to form rGO/TiO₂ nanobelt surface heterostructures. The heterostructures enhance the separation of the photoinduced carriers, which results in a higher photocurrent due to the special electronic characteristics of rGO. Compared to TiO₂ nanobelts, the rGO/TiO₂ nanobelt surface heterostructures possess higher photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methyl orange and for the production of hydrogen from water, as well as excellent recyclability, with no loss of activity over five cycles.</p> </abstract>