Open AccessCharacterization, uniformity and photo-catalytic properties of graphene/TiO_2 nanocomposites via Raman mapping
Author(s) -
Xinyu Wang,
Jie Zhou,
Xiaolei Zhang,
Yudan Zhu
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.25.021496
Subject(s) - graphene , raman spectroscopy , materials science , anatase , transmission electron microscopy , nanocomposite , scanning electron microscope , nanotechnology , photocatalysis , optics , catalysis , composite material , chemistry , biochemistry , physics
Three types of anatase TiO 2 , graphene-TiO 2 , TiO 2 -graphene composites (G/TiO 2 ) were developed, synthesized via a combination of simple sol-gel self-assembly method and additional thermal annealing process. Their structures and properties are determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Raman spectrum analysis. In addition, Raman spectra of TiO 2 and graphene, the band shift and intensity of G and 2D band were analyzed, in order to verify the mutual coupling between TiO 2 and graphene. Combined Raman mapping with AFM analysis, the agglomeration effect of TiO 2 nanoparticles was figured out by quantitative analysis. Finally, the photo-catalytic properties of three kinds of composites were experimentally studied via Raman mapping measurements. The results reveal that graphene with high electron mobility, as an acceptor through interfacial interactions, was certificated to enhance the photo-catalytic effect of TiO 2 .