title: Enhanced photoelectrocatalytic activity for dye degradation by graphene-titania composite film electrodes.
abstract: Graphene-titania composite film electrodes have been fabricated by a dip-coating method. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images show that the titania nanoparticles were dispersed uniformly, with only a little aggregation on the surface and edges of the graphene sheets. XRD analysis showed that the composite electrodes comprised the anatase phase of titania with just a little rutile phase. The photoelectrocatalytic activities of the as-prepared samples were investigated by studies of the degradation of Reactive Brilliant Red dye X-3B (C.I. reactive red 2). An enhancement of the photocurrents was observed using the graphene-titania composite electrodes, compared with pure titania film electrodes, under UV light irradiation. This improvement is attributed to the following two reasons: enhanced migration efficiency of the photo-induced electrons and enhanced adsorption activity of the dye molecules. In addition, we investigated the effects of graphene content and pH values on the photoelectrocatalytic activity of the as-prepared composite film electrodes. Results showed that there was an optimal amount of 5% (initial graphite oxide content).
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China.
authors.forename: Peifang
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yanhui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ao
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qian
mesh_terms: D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002384:Catalysis; D058266:Dielectric Spectroscopy; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D004566:Electrodes; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods*; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009282:Naphthalenesulfonates / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D001391:Azo Compounds; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D009282:Naphthalenesulfonates; C520101:Reactive brilliant red X-3B; C009495:titanium dioxide; D006108:Graphite; D014025:Titanium