Investigation of photocatalytic performances of sulfur based reduced graphene oxide-TiO2 nanohybrids

• Published in: Applied surface science 2018-08, Vol.449, p.712-718
• Main Authors: Raghavan, Nivea, Thangavel, Sakthivel, Sivalingam, Yuvaraj, Venugopal, Gunasekaran
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Graphene oxide; Photo catalyst; Sulfur; TiO2
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2018.01.043

•S@rGO-TiO2 hybrid has been prepared to combat dye pollutants.•Physico-chemical characterizations such as SEM, XRD, EDAX and Raman are carried out.•On this venture, insightful results were acquired via hydrothermal method.•S@rGO-TiO2 hybrid is a finest photocatalyst compared to TiO2 and rGO-TiO2. Hypothesized the incorporation of direct elemental sulfur (S) into graphene-oxide (GO) via simple sonication. Initially S@GO was prepared using simple ultrasonication and evaluated its photocatalytic property. In S@GO instead of photocatalytic activity the adsorption was predominant due the amphiphilic property of GO. Later, S@GO was utilized to prepare sulfur based rGO-TiO2 [S@rGO-TiO2 or SRT] hybrids using solvothermal method. Herein the addition of ubiquitous sulfur has been hypothesized to improve the efficiency of photocatalyst. When S@GO subjected to solvothermal treatment, unpredicted reaction took place and it is discussed later briefly, yet this S@rGO-TiO2 hybrid demonstrated high photocatalytic activity. Some essential characterization such as SEM, EDAX, XRD and Raman analysis were carried out and its photocatalytic performance were evaluated and compared with TiO2 and reduced graphene-oxide-TiO2. Our investigations will create a new pathway in futuristic development of SRT hybrids suitable for photocatalytic and waste-water treatment/remedial applications.