Preparation of Graphene/TiO 2 Composite Nanomaterials and Its Photocatalytic Performance for the Degradation of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid

• Published in: Journal of nanomaterials 2016-12, Vol.2016, p.1-11
• Main Authors: Huang, Donggen, Yang, Tianzi, Mo, Zhuanghong, Guo, Qin, Quan, Shuiqing, Luo, Cui, Liu, Lei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1687-4110; 1687-4129
• DOI: 10.1155/2016/5858906

The graphene (GR) was prepared by an improved electrochemical stripping method using a high-purity graphite rod as raw material and high temperature heat reduction in hydrogen atmosphere, and the graphene/TiO 2 (GR/TiO 2 ) composite nanomaterials were manufactured by the method of sol-gel and high temperature crystallization in hydrogen atmosphere using butyl titanate and electrolysis graphene as precursors. The physical and chemical properties of the composites had been characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-Vis spectrophotometer (UV-Vis), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM),  and specific surface area (SSA) by BET method. The photocatalytic properties of GR/TiO 2 composites nanomaterials in anoxic water were studied by using 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) as probe. The results showed that graphite was well intercalated and peeled by a facile electrolysis method in different electric field environment; a well dispersed and rings structure of graphene was prepared by coupling ultrasound-assisted changing voltage electrochemical stripping technology. The as-prepared GR/TiO 2 composites had good performance for the photocatalytic degradation of 2,4-D in anoxic water; the chlorines were removed from benzene ring; the middle products of dichlorophenol, chlorophenol, phloroglucinol, and so forth were produced from the photocatalytic redox reaction of 2,4-D in anoxic water; parts of 2,4-D were decomposed completely, and CO 2 and H 2 O were produced.