Preparation of graphene/TiO2 composites by nonionic surfactant strategy and their simulated sunlight and visible light photocatalytic activity towards representative aqueous POPs degradation

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2013-04, Vol.250-251, p.19-28
• Main Authors: Li, Kexin, Xiong, Jingjing, Chen, Tong, Yan, Liushui, Dai, Yuhua, Song, Dongyang, Lv, Ying, Zeng, Zhenxing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorption; Adsorption; Aldicarb - isolation & purification; Applied sciences; Catalysis; Catalytic reactions; Chemical engineering; Chemistry; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Graphene; Graphite - chemistry; Heterogeneous photocatalysis; Kinetics; Microscopy, Atomic Force; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Nitrogen - chemistry; Nonionic surfactant; Norfloxacin - isolation & purification; Photochemistry - methods; Pollution; POPs; Reactors; Rhodamines - isolation & purification; Solvothermal treatment; Sunlight; Surface-Active Agents - chemistry; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; Titania; Titanium - chemistry; Water Pollutants, Chemical - chemistry; X-Ray Diffraction
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.01.069

► A series of graphene/TiO2 composites were developed by nonionic surfactant strategy. ► The textural property, optical property, and composition were well characterized. ► Aqueous POPs were degraded under simulated sunlight and visible light irradiation. ► The degradation mechanism and kinetics of aqueous POPs were studied in detail. ► Mineralization of aqueous POPs and recyclability of the composites were also tested. A series of graphene/TiO2 composites were fabricated using a single-step nonionic surfactant strategy combined with the solvothermal treatment technique. Their phase structure, morphology, porosity, optical absorption property, as well as composition and structure, were characterized. The as-prepared composites were successfully applied to degrade aqueous persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as rhodamine B, aldicarb, and norfloxacin in simulated sunlight (λ>320nm) and visible light (λ>400nm) irradiation. The degradation mechanism and kinetics of aqueous POPs were studied in detail. The mineralization of aqueous POPs and the recyclability of the composites were also tested in the same condition.