Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue: Preparation of TiO{sub 2}/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites by direct sol-gel and hydrothermal methods
- Département de Génie des Procédés, Laboratoire de Génie des Procédés Chimiques, Faculté de Technologie, Université Ferhat Abbas, Sétif-1, 19000 Sétif (Algeria)
Highlights: • TiO{sub 2}-RGO nanocomposites presented, in all the cases studied, improved photocatalytic properties compared to bare TiO{sub 2}. • An optimal composition, in terms of TiO{sub 2}/RGO ratio was found in both series nanocomposites. • Nanocomposites of sol-gel method presented improved textural properties than those of hydrothermal method. • Optimization in the preparation, needed to obtain materials with finer properties for effective application in environmental. - Abstract: In this study, two different preparation methods of titanium dioxide nanoparticles/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites were investigated using direct sol-gel method followed by hydrothermal treatment or simple hydrothermal route. A different amount of graphene (1- 20%) was mixed with TiO{sub 2} for both series of samples in order to improve the photocatalytic activity. The influence of the preparation method on the physico-chemical properties was established by different characterization methods and the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) under UV light irradiation was used as test reaction. The highest photocatalytic activity was observed for the nanocomposites containing 10 wt% of graphene. The elimination of MB can reach 93% and 82% for the nanocomposites with 10 wt% graphene prepared by the sol-gel and hydrothermal methods, respectively. These photocatalysts are promising for practical application in nanotechnology.
- OSTI ID:
- 22730479
- Journal Information:
- Materials Research Bulletin, Vol. 95; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2017 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0025-5408
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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