title: Sonochemical synthesis of TiO(2 nanoparticles on graphene for use as photocatalyst.
abstract: Using ultrasonication we succeed in a controlled incorporation of TiO(2) nanoparticles on the graphene layers homogeneously in a few hours. The average size of the TiO(2) nanoparticles was controlled at around 4-5 nm on the sheets without using any surfactant, which is attributed to the pyrolysis and condensation of the dissolved TiCl(4) into TiO(2) by ultrasonic waves. The photocatalytic activity of the resultant graphene-TiO(2) composites containing 25 wt.% TiO(2) is better than that of commercial pure TiO(2). This is partly due to the extremely small size of the TiO(2) nanoparticles and partly due to the graphene-TiO(2) composite structure consisting of homogeneous dispersion of crystalline TiO(2) nanoparticles on the graphene sheets. As the graphene in the composites has a very good contact with the TiO(2) nanoparticles it enhances the photo-electron conversion of TiO(2) by reducing the recombination of photo-generated electron-hole pairs.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Jingjing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Shenmin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Zhixin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ziyong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Qinglei
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jingbo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chuanliang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Di
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light; D008422:Materials Testing; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010777:Photochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D013010:Sonication / Q000379:methods*; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*
chemical_list: C009495:titanium dioxide; D006108:Graphite; D014025:Titanium