In-situ growth of zinc tungstate nanorods on graphene for enhanced photocatalytic performance

Journal Article · Mon Sep 15 04:00:00 EDT 2014 · Materials Research Bulletin

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATERRESBULL.2014.05.006· OSTI ID:22420542

Rao, Lei ^[1]; Xu, Junling ^[1]; Ao, Yanhui ^[1]; Wang, Peifang ^[1]

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1. College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Hohai University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213022 (China)

Graphical abstract: Graphene/ZnWO{sub 4} (G–ZnWO{sub 4}) nanorod composite photocatalysts were prepared by a simple one-step method. Namely, the reduction of graphene oxide and the growth of ZnWO{sub 4} nanorod occurred simultaneously in one single process. An enhancement in the photocatalytic activities were observed in G–ZnWO{sub 4} composites compared with pure ZnWO{sub 4} under UV light irradiation. - Highlights: • Graphene–ZnWO{sub 4} composite photocatalyst was prepared for the first time. • The as-prepared composite photocatalysts show high activity for dye degradation. • Effect of graphene amount on the photocatalytic activity was investigated. - Abstract: Graphene–zinc tungstate (G–ZnWO{sub 4}) hybrid photocatalysts were prepared by an in-situ growth method in which the reduction of graphene oxide (GO) and the growth of ZnWO{sub 4} crystals occurred simultaneously. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity was investigated by the degradation of dye methylene blue (MB). An enhancement in the photocatalytic activity was observed for G–ZnWO{sub 4} hybrids compared with pure ZnWO{sub 4} under UV light. This improvement was attributed to the following two reasons: increased migration efficiency of photo-induced electrons and increased adsorption activity for dye molecules. The effect of the amount of graphene on the photocatalytic activity was also investigated. Results showed that there was an optimum amount of 2%.

• OSTI ID: 22420542
• Journal Information: Materials Research Bulletin, Journal Name: Materials Research Bulletin Vol. 57; ISSN MRBUAC; ISSN 0025-5408
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ADSORPTION
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CRYSTALS
ELECTRONS
GRAPHENE
IRRADIATION
METHYLENE BLUE
NANOSTRUCTURES
PHOTOCATALYSIS
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SYNTHESIS
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
ZINC TUNGSTATES