Issue 95, 2016, Issue in Progress

Exfoliation of graphite into graphene in aqueous solution: an application as graphene/TiO2 nanocomposite to improve visible light photocatalytic activity

Abstract

The aim of this study was the preparation of a graphene/TiO2 heterogeneous catalyst supported on polypropylene for visible light photocatalysis. Aqueous graphene dispersions were prepared by liquid-phase exfoliation of graphite in the presence of a non-ionic surfactant, Triton X-100. The obtained graphene dispersion was characterized by X-ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering and UV-Visible spectroscopy and was subsequently used for the preparation of graphene/TiO2 photocatalyst. As-prepared photocatalysts were tested for the photocatalytic degradation of a refractory dye, Alizarin Red S, in water solutions as target pollutant. Graphene/TiO2 nanocomposites showed higher adsorption of Alizarin Red S on the catalyst surface and higher photocatalytic activity for its degradation under visible light irradiation, in respect to those obtained with pure TiO2.

Graphical abstract: Exfoliation of graphite into graphene in aqueous solution: an application as graphene/TiO2 nanocomposite to improve visible light photocatalytic activity

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
23 Mar 2016
Accepted
23 Sep 2016
First published
23 Sep 2016

RSC Adv., 2016,6, 93048-93055

Author version available

Exfoliation of graphite into graphene in aqueous solution: an application as graphene/TiO2 nanocomposite to improve visible light photocatalytic activity

R. Giovannetti, E. Rommozzi, M. Zannotti, C. A. D'Amato, S. Ferraro, M. Cespi, G. Bonacucina, M. Minicucci and A. Di Cicco, RSC Adv., 2016, 6, 93048 DOI: 10.1039/C6RA07617C

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