title: Synthesis of TiO2 nanorod-decorated graphene sheets and their highly efficient photocatalytic activities under visible-light irradiation.
abstract: The titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) nanorod-decorated graphene sheets photocatalysts with different TiO(2) nanorods population have been synthesized by a simple non-hydrolytic sol-gel approach. Electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the TiO(2) nanorods are well-dispersed and successfully anchored on the graphene sheet surface through the formation of covalent bonds between Ti and C atoms. The photocatalytic activities are evaluated in terms of the efficiencies of photodecomposition and adsorption of methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solution under visible-light irradiation. The as-synthesized TiO(2) nanorod-decorated graphene sheets showed unprecedented photodecomposition efficiency compared to the pristine TiO(2) nanorods and the commercial TiO(2) (P-25, Degussa) under visible-light. It is believed that this predominant photocatalytic activity is due to the synergistic contribution of both a retarded charge recombination rate caused by a high electronic mobility of graphene and an increased surface area originated from nanometer-sized TiO(2) nanorods. Furthermore, photoelectrochemical study is performed to give deep insights into the primary roles of graphene that determines the photocatalytic activity.
authors.affiliation: World Class University (WCU) Program of Chemical Convergence for Energy & Environment (C2E2), School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Seoul National University (SNU), Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eunwoo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jin-Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Haeyoung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Jyongsik
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jang
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D008027:Light; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D043942:Nanotubes; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: C009495:titanium dioxide; D006108:Graphite; D014025:Titanium