An Effective Utilization of Solar Energy: Enhanced Photodegradation Efficiency of TiO2/Graphene-Based Composite

The integration of graphene-based material and TiO2 can greatly enhance the photodegradation efficiency toward contaminants in the environment. As the morphology of TiO2 varies from a 0D nanoparticle (NP) and a 1D Nanotube (NT)/Nanowire (NW) to a 2D nanosheet, the contact between TiO2 and graphene-based material would increasingly intensify and the distribution of TiO2 on the graphene sheets becomes more uniform. Both factors lead to better photocatalytic performance. The graphene commonly possesses the intrinsic properties of higher surface area, more efficient charge transfer, inhibited electron-hole pairs (EHPs)' recombination and extended light absorption range. With the assistance of some functional surfactants, the photodegradation performance can be further improved according to more specific requirements such as the photodegradation selectivity. This paper provides an overview of recent progress regarding the method and mechanism of graphene in various TiO2/Graphene composites.