Fabrication and photocatalytic ability of an Au/TiO₂/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite

Highlights

Deposition Au nanoparticles on both TiO₂ and RGO to fabricate Au/TiO₂/RGO.

Au/TiO₂/RGO displayed a high H₂O₂ and •OH production in photocatalytic process.

RGO is a good collector to transfer electrons from TiO₂ to Au.

Abstract

A new type of Au/TiO₂/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanocomposite was fabricated by the hydrothermal synthesis of TiO₂ on graphene oxide followed by the photodeposition of Au nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy images showed that Au nanoparticles were loaded onto the surface of both TiO₂ and RGO. Au/TiO₂/RGO had a better photocatalytic activity than Au/TiO₂ for the degradation of phenol. Electrochemical measurements indicated that Au/TiO₂/RGO had an improved charge transfer capability. Meanwhile, chemiluminescent analysis and electron spin resonance spectroscopy revealed that Au/TiO₂/RGO displayed high production of hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals in the photocatalytic process. This high photocatalytic performance was achieved via the addition of RGO in Au/TiO₂/RGO, where RGO served not only as a catalyst support to provide more sites for the deposition of Au nanoparticles but also as a collector to accept electrons from TiO₂ to effectively reduce photogenerated charge recombination.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Reduced graphene oxide / Au / TiO₂ / Nanocomposite / Photocatalysis

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province of China (No. 2014020149), the Scientific Research Project of Liaoning Provincial Department of Education (No. L201603) and the Open Foundation of Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Ecology-Toxicological Effects & Control for Emerging Contaminants (No. PY16005).

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