Premium
In Situ Growth of TiO 2 in Interlayers of Expanded Graphite for the Fabrication of TiO 2 –Graphene with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity
Author(s) -
Jiang Baojiang,
Tian Chungui,
Zhou Wei,
Wang Jianqiang,
Xie Ying,
Pan Qingjiang,
Ren Zhiyu,
Dong Youzhen,
Fu Dan,
Han Jiale,
Fu Honggang
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201100250
Subject(s) - graphene , materials science , photocatalysis , graphite , exfoliation joint , raman spectroscopy , chemical engineering , solvothermal synthesis , nanoparticle , nanotechnology , bromide , composite material , catalysis , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , chemistry , physics , engineering , optics
Abstract We present a facile route for the preparation of TiO 2 –graphene composites by in situ growth of TiO 2 in the interlayer of inexpensive expanded graphite (EG) under solvothermal conditions. A vacuum‐assisted technique combined with the use of a surfactant (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) plays a key role in the fabrication of such composites. Firstly, the vacuum environment promotes full infusion of the initial solution containing Ti(OBu) 4 and the surfactant into the interlayers of EG. Subsequently, numerous TiO 2 nanoparticles uniformly grow in situ in the interlayers with the help of the surfactant, which facilitates the exfoliation of EG under the solvothermal conditions in ethanol, eventually forming TiO 2 –graphene composites. The as‐prepared samples have been characterized by Raman and FTIR spectroscopies, SEM, TEM, AFM, and thermogravimetic analysis. It is shown that a large number of TiO 2 nanoparticles homogeneously cover the surface of high‐quality graphene sheets. The graphene exhibits a multi‐layered structure (5–7 layers). Notably, the TiO 2 –graphene composite (only 30 wt % of which is TiO 2 ) synthesized by subsequent thermal treatment at high temperature under nitrogen shows high photocatalytic activity in the degradation of phenol under visible and UV lights in comparison with bare Degussa P25. The enhanced photocatalytic performance is attributed to increased charge separation, improved light absorbance and light absorption width, and high adsorptivity for pollutants.