title: Anatase TiO2 nanocrystals with exposed {001} facets on graphene sheets via molecular grafting for enhanced photocatalytic activity.
abstract: Owing to their extensive practical applications and fundamental importance, the controllable synthesis of well-faceted anatase TiO(2) crystal with high percentage of reactive facets has attracted increasing attention. Here, nano-sized anatase TiO(2) sheets mainly dominated by {001} facets had been prepared on graphene sheets by using a facile solvothermal synthetic route. The percentage of {001} facets in TiO(2) nanosheets was calculated to be ca. 64%. The morphologies, structural properties, growth procedures and photocatalytic activities of the resultant TiO(2)/graphene nanocomposites were investigated. In comparison with commercial P25 and pure TiO(2) nanosheets, the composite exhibited significant improvement in photocatalytic degradation of the azo dye Rhodamine B under visible light irradiation. The enhancement of photocatalytic activity and stability was attributed to the effective charge anti-recombination of graphene and the high catalytic activity of {001} facets.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering, Changchun University of Technology, Changchun, PR China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Zhenlu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yunchun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis / Q000528:radiation effects; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light; D008422:Materials Testing; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D012235:Rhodamines / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*
chemical_list: D012235:Rhodamines; C009495:titanium dioxide; D006108:Graphite; D014025:Titanium; C029773:rhodamine B