Issue 1, 2012

Hybridizing photoactive zeolites with graphene: a powerful strategy towards superior photocatalytic properties

Abstract

Research on zeolitic materials has recently taken off in a new direction, driven by the desire to design nanoscale hierarchical architectures with specific chemical functionalities. From both, a scientific and industrial perspective, photoactive zeolites, such as titanosilicates (TS-1), are among the most interesting candidates and research has focused on maximising their photocatalytic performance by means of nanostructuring and electronic modification. In this work, we employ graphene to create a new class of photocatalysts that truly advances semi-conductor photocatalysis to its next generation. We demonstrate that the photocatalytic activity of TS-1 for the degradation of organic dyes can be enhanced through graphene by more than 25 times. Responsible for this remarkable improvement are (1) a more efficient electron–hole separation via interfacial charge transfer processes and (2) surprising beneficial effects of graphene on the crystal morphology, the porosity and the adsorption behaviour of the zeolite.

Graphical abstract: Hybridizing photoactive zeolites with graphene: a powerful strategy towards superior photocatalytic properties

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
28 jul 2011
Accepted
03 okt 2011
First published
27 okt 2011

Chem. Sci., 2012,3, 209-216

Hybridizing photoactive zeolites with graphene: a powerful strategy towards superior photocatalytic properties

Z. Ren, E. Kim, S. W. Pattinson, K. S. Subrahmanyam, C. N. R. Rao, A. K. Cheetham and D. Eder, Chem. Sci., 2012, 3, 209 DOI: 10.1039/C1SC00511A

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