Fabrication and photocatalytic ability of an Au/TiO2/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite

doi:10.1007/s11783-017-0977-8

Front. Environ. Sci. Eng.

2018, Vol. 12

Issue (1) : 4 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-017-0977-8

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Fabrication and photocatalytic ability of an Au/TiO₂/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite

Fenghe Lv^1,², Hua Wang^1,^2,³(

), Zhangliang Li³, Qi Zhang^1,⁴, Xuan Liu^1,⁴, Yan Su⁴(

)

¹. School of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China
². Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China’s Sea, Ministry of Agriculture, Dalian 116023, China
³. Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Ecology-Toxicological Effects & Control for Emerging Contaminants, Putian 351100, China
⁴. Faculty of Chemical, Environmental and Biological Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China

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Abstract

Deposition Au nanoparticles on both TiO₂ and RGO to fabricate Au/TiO₂/RGO.

Au/TiO₂/RGO displayed a high H₂O₂ and •OH production in photocatalytic process.

RGO is a good collector to transfer electrons from TiO₂ to Au.

A new type of Au/TiO₂/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanocomposite was fabricated by the hydrothermal synthesis of TiO₂ on graphene oxide followed by the photodeposition of Au nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy images showed that Au nanoparticles were loaded onto the surface of both TiO₂ and RGO. Au/TiO₂/RGO had a better photocatalytic activity than Au/TiO₂ for the degradation of phenol. Electrochemical measurements indicated that Au/TiO₂/RGO had an improved charge transfer capability. Meanwhile, chemiluminescent analysis and electron spin resonance spectroscopy revealed that Au/TiO₂/RGO displayed high production of hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals in the photocatalytic process. This high photocatalytic performance was achieved via the addition of RGO in Au/TiO₂/RGO, where RGO served not only as a catalyst support to provide more sites for the deposition of Au nanoparticles but also as a collector to accept electrons from TiO₂ to effectively reduce photogenerated charge recombination.

Keywords Reduced graphene oxide Au TiO₂ Nanocomposite Photocatalysis

Corresponding Author(s): Hua Wang,Yan Su

Issue Date: 01 August 2017

Cite this article:

Fenghe Lv,Hua Wang,Zhangliang Li, et al. Fabrication and photocatalytic ability of an Au/TiO₂/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2018, 12(1): 4.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/10.1007/s11783-017-0977-8
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/Y2018/V12/I1/4

Fig.1 A schematic mechanism of photogenerated electrons migrating in the Au/TiO₂/graphene nanocomposite

Fig.2 TEM images of TiO₂/RGO before (a) and after (b) the deposition of Au nanoparticles. (c) A higher magnification TEM image of Au/TiO₂/RGO

Fig.3 XRD patterns of TiO₂/RGO and Au/TiO₂/RGO

Fig.4 Raman spectra of Au/TiO₂ and Au/TiO₂/RGO

Fig.5 Evaluation of phenol degradation under UV light (0.75 mW·cm⁻²) irradiation for no catalyst, TiO₂, Au/TiO₂, Au/TiO₂/0.5RGO, Au/TiO₂/1.0RGO and Au/TiO₂/1.5RGO

Fig.6 Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy plots of Au/TiO₂ and Au/TiO₂/RGO both in the dark and under UV light (0.75 mW·cm⁻²) irradiation

Fig.7 The formation of H₂O₂ for no photocatalyst, TiO₂, Au/TiO₂, and Au/TiO₂/RGO under UV light (0.75 mW·cm⁻²) irradiation for 4 h

Fig.8 ESR spectra of TiO₂, Au/TiO₂, and Au/TiO₂/RGO both in the dark and under UV light irradiation

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