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Enhancing the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 and TiO2–SiO2 by coupling with graphene–gold nanocomposites

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Abstract

In the present paper, a novel composite Graphene–Gold (Gr–Au)/TiO2–SiO2 photocatalyst was synthesized and tested for the removal of methylene blue and rhodamine B in water solutions. First, Gr–Au nanoparticle composite was synthesized by simultaneous reduction and deposition of Au nanoparticles on Gr surface. The photodegradation of methylene blue and rhodamine B in aqueous solutions was studied using various photocatalysts, including neat TiO2–SiO2, Gr/TiO2–SiO2 and Gr–Au/TiO2–SiO2 composites. The Gr weight ratio in this research is 2% in the Gr/TiO2–SiO2 composites. Detailed characterization (field emission scanning electron microscope, Raman, Fourier transform infrared spectra and UV–vis absorbance spectroscopy) of such material was conducted. As a result, the uniform deposition of nanometer-sized Au NPs on the graphene sheets was observed. The Gr–Au/TiO2–SiO2 exhibited excellent photocatalytic efficiency because of the reduction of electron–hole recombination. The Gr2%–Au0.1%/TiO2–SiO2 composite had the highest photoactivity.

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Acknowledgements

This research is financially supported by IMPAKT in the framework of the EU Erasmus Mundus Action 2.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering Materials Environment, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184, Rome, Italy

    Vu Duc Chinh, Irene Bavasso, Luca Di Palma, Marco Scarsella, Giorgio Vilardi & Maria Paola Bracciale

  2. Institute of Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet road, Cau Giay District, Hanoi, 122100, Vietnam

    Vu Duc Chinh & Nguyen Thuy Van

  3. Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet road, Cau Giay District, Hanoi, 122100, Vietnam

    Vu Duc Chinh

  4. Department of Basic and Applied Sciences for Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Scarpa 16, 00161, Rome, Italy

    Anna Candida Felici

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  1. Vu Duc Chinh
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Chinh, V.D., Bavasso, I., Di Palma, L. et al. Enhancing the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 and TiO2–SiO2 by coupling with graphene–gold nanocomposites. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 32, 5082–5093 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-021-05242-9

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