Preparation and characterization of graphene - TiO2 nanocomposite for enhanced photodegradation of Rhodamine-B dye

The synthesizing of TiO2@rGO nanocomposites using an efficient method has been carried out to enhance the photodegradation activities of TiO2. Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) synthesis has been illustrated as a key step. The preparation of TiO2@rGO is highly needed and recommended to develop an effective way for the reduction of GO. Our study illustrated an environmentally simple method for TiO2@rGO preparation and demonstrated its efficiency for photocatalytic process by utilizing rhodamine-B dye as an organic pollutant. Synthesized nanoparticles of reduced TiO2@rGO have an observable increase in photo-energy adsorption leading to the increase of the photodegradation reactions. From the obtained results, TiO2@rGO nanocomposites showed great ability to absorb photo-energy and enhance the photodegradation reactions. Moreover, the results revealed that the 3% TiO2@rGO have the best performance than 1% TiO2@rGO at pH = 9.0, 30 mg/l initial dye concentration and 60 min irradiation duration. The reduced graphene oxide production was considered as an influential co-catalyst for improving the TiO2 photocatalytic activities mainly owing to; the fast separation of h(+)/e and the adsorption improvement. Our study affirms the production of promising applicable particles using the environmental photocatalysis process in particular with regard to wastewater purification. (C) 2018 Hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries.