Fabrication of TiO2-graphene photocatalyst by direct chemical vapor deposition and its anti-fouling property

In this report, we demonstrated a successful fabrication of titanium dioxide (TiO2)-graphene composite for photocatalytic applications by direct deposition of graphene onto TiO2 nanoparticles (P25) via a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method using methanol or propylene as the carbon sources. The successful formation of the graphene layer was confirmed from its Raman spectrum showing typical bands for graphitic structure. Furthermore, HR-TEM images of the composites showed a less than 1 nm-thick graphene layer surrounding the TiO2 particles. The TiO2-graphene composites exhibited approximately 2-fold higher photocatalytic activity than the bare TiO2 for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and estradiol as model pollutants. We also investigated the anti-fouling effect of the TiO2-graphene composite and the bare TiO2 previously immersed in synthetic groundwater (SGW). The kinetic constants of photo-degradation on TiO2-graphene composites immersed in SGW containing a foulant exhibit enhancement of an anti-fouling effect compared to the bare TiO2. The graphene was thought to protect the TiO2 from the foulant. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.