Enhanced photocatalytic activity of graphene-TiO2 nanocomposite under UV and visible light irradiation

TiO2 nanoparticles grown on graphene (GR–TiO2) were prepared by a simple sol-gel method usingtitanium tetra iso-propoxide (TTIP), Ti[OCH(CH3)2]4 as precursors and graphene (GR) as templates. The resultingmaterials were used for degradation of methyl orange (MO) aqueous solution under UV and visible light illuminationas probe pollutant. The structure of nanocomposites were studied X-ray diffraction ( XRD). XRD results showed thatTiO2 - x wt%GR nanocomposite and TiO2 nanoparticles own anatase phase with some rutile phase. The photocatalyticactivity of GR–TiO2 in methyl orange bleaching under visible light (>430 nm) is much enhanced

Keywords:

TiO2 nanoparticles , sol-gel , methyl orange (MO) , photocatalytic activity , TiO2 - x wt%GR