Preparation of TiO₂ Nanocrystals/Graphene Composite and Its Photocatalytic Performance (cited: 1)

TiO₂ nanocrystals/graphene (TiO₂/GR) composite are prepared by combining flocculation and hydrothermal reduction technology using graphite oxide and TiO₂ colloid as precursors. The obtained materials are examined by scanning electron microscopy, transition electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, N₂ adsorption desorption, and ultraviolet-visible diffuse spec-troscopy. The results suggest that the presence of TiO₂ nanocrystals with diameter of about 15 nm prevents GR nanosheets from agglomeration. Owing to the uniform distribution of TiO₂ nanocrystals on the GR nanosheets, TiO₂/GR composite exhibits stronger light absorption in the visible region, higher adsorption capacity to methylene blue and higher efficiency of charge separation and transportation compared with pure TiO₂. Moreover, the TiO₂/GR composite with a GR content of 30% shows higher photocatalytic removal efficiency of MB from water than that of pure TiO₂ and commercial P25 under both UV and sunlight irradiation.