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Investigation of the synergistic effect of porphyrin photosensitizer on graphene–TiO 2 nanocomposite for visible light photoactivity improvement
Author(s) -
Rahimi Rahmatollah,
Zargari Solmaz,
Ghaffarinejad Ali,
Morsali Ali
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
environmental progress and sustainable energy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.495
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1944-7450
pISSN - 1944-7442
DOI - 10.1002/ep.12267
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , photodegradation , visible spectrum , porphyrin , photosensitizer , photocurrent , methyl orange , photochemistry , nanocomposite , materials science , irradiation , bisphenol a , chemistry , nanotechnology , catalysis , organic chemistry , optoelectronics , physics , nuclear physics , epoxy , composite material
To use the visible light in photodegradation reactions efficiently, graphene–TiO 2 nanocomposite was photosensitized using tetrakis(4‐carboxyphenyl)porphyrin. To investigate the effect of graphene as well as dye sensitization on the photoactivity of the synthesized photocatalyst, photocatalytic properties and photocurrent responses of the prepared samples were examined under visible light irradiation. A twofold increase of photocurrent response in the TG nanocomposite photosensitized with porphyrin (TGP) compared to TG (3%) nanocomposite provides an evidence of the effective influence of the porphyrin photosensitizer in the visible light photoactivity enhancement. There is a complete correspondence between the photocatalytic activity and photocurrent response of the photocatalysts. The photocatalytic properties of the photocatalysts were carried out in the degradation of methyl orange and bisphenol A under visible light irradiation. It was determined that TGP compound was stable after photocatalytic process and degraded 93% of methyl orange and 85% of bisphenol A in 240 min under visible light irradiation. Furthermore, the mechanism of investigation of the photocatalytic process determines thatO 2 .−and OH . are the main reactive species for degradation of methyl orange and bisphenol A over the TGP compound under visible light irradiation. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 35: 642–652, 2016