TiO2 Nanoparticles-Functionalized N-Doped Graphene with Superior Interfacial Contact and Enhanced Charge Separation for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation

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• 作者：Zhigang Mou ; Yijie Wu ; Jianhua Sun ; Ping Yang ; Yukou Du ; Cheng Lu
• 刊名：ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
• 出版年：2014
• 出版时间：August 27, 2014
• 年：2014
• 卷：6
• 期：16
• 页码：13798-13806
• 全文大小：471K
• ISSN：1944-8252

文摘

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles-functionalized N-doped graphene (NGR) composites (NGR/TiO₂) were prepared through solvothermal treatment approach using exfoliated NGR and tetrabutyl titanate as the staring materials. The composites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV鈥搗is diffuse reflectance spectra, photoelectrochemical, and electrochemical measurements. Nitrogen doping provides favorable nucleation and anchor sites for TiO₂ nanocrystals formation on NGR sheets, helping to form an intimate interfacial contact between NGR and TiO₂ nanoparticles. Moreover, NGR has higher electrical conductivity than the reduced graphene oxide (RGO) due to the recovery of the sp² graphite network and decrease of defects, resulting in more effective charge transfer and charge separation in the NGR/TiO₂ composite. NGR/TiO₂ nanocomposite demonstrated a higher photocatalytic activity for hydrogen production as compared to its counterpart, TiO₂-functionalized RGO composite (RGO/TiO₂). This work provides new insights to design new more efficient graphene-based nanocomposite photocatalysts for solar energy conversion.

Keywords:

N-doped graphene; TiO₂; nanocomposite photocatalyst; platinum; hydrogen generation