Fabrication and Photocatalytic Properties of TiO2/Reduced Graphene Oxide/Ag Nanocomposites with UV/Vis Response

Novel one-dimensional TiO2 nanofibers/reduced graphene oxide/Ag nanoparticles (TiO2/rGO/Ag) nanocomposite photocatalysts with UV/Vis response properties were fabricated by wrapping rGO sheets around TiO2 nanofibers and then loading Ag nanoparticles onto the surfaces of TiO2/rGO. The prepared samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activities of the samples were evaluated by photocatalytic degradation of an aqueous solution of rhodamine B (RhB) under UV/Vis light irradiation. The results showed that the introduction of rGO and Ag greatly improved the photocatalytic activity of the TiO2 nanofibers, and this enhancement was attributed to the hybridization of rGO possessing specific electronic effects and Ag nanoparticles showing surface plasmon resonance effects. As a consequence, extension of the absorption spectrum to the visible region and efficient restriction of the recombination of photogenerated carriers were achieved.