Preparation and characterization of a new CdS–NiFe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>/reduced graphene oxide photocatalyst and its use for degradation of methylene blue under visible light irradiation

In this paper, CdS nanoparticles as a visible light active photocatalyst were coupled by NiFe₂O₄ and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to form CdS–NiFe₂O₄/rGO nanocomposite by facile hydrothermal methods. The CdS–NiFe₂O₄/rGO nanocomposite shows enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light illumination. In addition to improved photocatalytic performance, this prepared nanocomposite shows increased photostability and is magnetically separable from the aqueous media. The degradation rate constant (k_app) of the optimized photocatalyst, i.e. CdS–NiFe₂O₄ (0.05)/rGO 25 wt% nanocomposite, was higher than the corresponding CdS and NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles by factors of 11.1 and 8.9, respectively. The synergistic interactions between CdS, NiFe₂O₄ and rGO lead to enhanced surface area, reduced aggregation of the nanoparticles, decreased the recombination of photogenerated electron–hole pairs, and increased the charge separation efficiency and effective electron–hole generation transfer. According to the obtained results, a proposed mechanism of the photodegradation of MB under visible light irradiation is finally mentioned.     

Near unity quantum yield of light-driven redox mediator reduction and efficient H2 generation using colloidal nanorod heterostructures

The advancement of direct solar-to-fuel conversion technologies requires the development of efficient catalysts as well as efficient materials and novel approaches for light harvesting and charge separation. We report a novel system for unprecedentedly efficient (with near-unity quantum yield) light-driven reduction of methylviologen (MV(2+)), a common redox mediator, using colloidal quasi-type II CdSe/CdS dot-in-rod nanorods as a light absorber and charge separator and mercaptopropionic acid as a sacrificial electron donor. In the presence of Pt nanoparticles, this system can efficiently convert sunlight into H(2), providing a versatile redox mediator-based approach for solar-to-fuel conversion. Compared to related CdSe seed and CdSe/CdS core/shell quantum dots and CdS nanorods, the quantum yields are significantly higher in the CdSe/CdS dot-in-rod structures. Comparison of charge separation, recombination and hole filling rates in these complexes showed that the dot-in-rod structure enables ultrafast electron transfer to methylviologen, fast hole removal by sacrificial electron donor and slow charge recombination, leading to the high quantum yield for MV(2+) photoreduction. Our finding demonstrates that by controlling the composition, size and shape of quantum-confined nanoheterostructures, the electron and hole wave functions can be tailored to produce efficient light harvesting and charge separation materials.     

One-pot hydrothermal synthesis of willow branch-shaped MoS2/CdS heterojunctions for photocatalytic H2 production under visible light irradiation

Willow branch-shaped MoS₂/CdS heterojunctions are successfully synthesized for the first time by a facile one-pot hydrothermal method. The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and photoelectrochemical and photoluminescence spectroscopy tests. The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activities of the samples were evaluated under visible light irradiation. The resulting MoS₂/CdS heterojunctions exhibit a much improved photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity than that obtained with CdS and MoS₂. In particular, the optimized MC-5 (5 at.% MoS₂/CdS) photocatalyst achieved the highest hydrogen production rate of 250.8 μmol h^-1, which is 28 times higher than that of pristine CdS. The apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) at 420 nm was 3.66%. Further detailed characterizations revealed that the enhanced photocatalytic activity of the MoS₂/CdS heterojunctions could be attributed to the efficient transfer and separation of photogenerated charge carriers resulting from the core-shell structure and the close contact between MoS₂ nanosheets and CdS single-crystal nanorods, as well as to increased visible light absorption. A tentative mechanism for photocatalytic H₂ evolution by MoS₂/CdS heterojunctions was proposed. This work will open up new opportunities for developing more efficient photocatalysts for water splitting.     

SiC/Pt/CdS纳米棒Z型异质结的制备及其高效光催化产氢性能

In this study, a novel silicon carbide/platinum/cadmium sulfide (SiC/Pt/CdS) Z-scheme heterojunction nanorod is constructed using a simple chemical reduction-assisted hydrothermal method, in which Pt nanoparticles are anchored at the interface of SiC nanorods and CdS nanoparticles to induce an electron-hole pair transfer along the Z-scheme transport path. Multiple characterization techniques are used to analyze the structure, morphology, and properties of these materials. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results show that the SiC/Pt/CdS materials with good crystal structure are successfully synthesized. Transmission electron microscopy reveals that Pt nanoparticles grow between the interfaces of SiC nanorods and CdS nanoparticles. UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy shows that the as-prepared Z-scheme heterojunction samples have a wider light absorption range in comparison with pristine CdS materials. Photoluminescence spectroscopy and the transient photocurrent response further demonstrate that the SiC/Pt/CdS nanorod sample with an optimal molar ratio possesses the highest electron-hole pair separation efficiency. The loading amount of CdS on the surface of SiC/Pt nanorods is effectively adjusted by controlling the molar ratio of SiC and CdS to achieve the optimal performance of the SiC/Pt/CdS nanorod photocatalysts. The optimal H₂ evolution capacity is achieved at SiC : CdS = 5 : 1 (molar ratio) and the maximum H₂ evolution rate reaches a high value of 122.3 µmol·h⁻¹. In addition, scanning electron microscopy, XRD, and XPS analyses show that the morphology and crystal structure of the SiC/Pt/CdS photocatalyst remain unchanged after three cycles of activity testing, indicating that the SiC/Pt/CdS nanocomposite has a stable structure for H₂ evolution under visible light. To prove the Z-scheme transfer mechanism of electron-hole pairs, selective photo-deposition technology is used to simultaneously carry out the photo-reduction deposition of Au nanoparticles and photo-oxidation deposition of Mn₃O₄ nanoparticles in the photoreaction. The experimental results indicate that during photocatalysis, the electrons in the conduction band of CdS participate mainly in the reduction reaction, and the holes in the valence band of SiC are more likely to undergo the oxidation reaction. The electrons in the conduction band of SiC combine with the holes in the valence band of CdS to form a Z-scheme transport path. Therefore, a possible Z-scheme charge migration path in SiC/Pt/CdS nanorods during photocatalytic H₂ production is proposed to explain the enhancement in the activity. This study provides a new strategy for synthesizing a Z-scheme photocatalytic system based on SiC nanorods. Based on the characterization results, it is determined that SiC/Pt/CdS nanocomposites are highly efficient, inexpensive, easy to prepare, and are stable structures for H₂ evolution under visible light with outstanding commercial application prospects.     

Integration of Semiconducting Sulfides for Full‐Spectrum Solar Energy Absorption and Efficient Charge Separation

The full harvest of solar energy by semiconductors requires a material that simultaneously absorbs across the whole solar spectrum and collects photogenerated electrons and holes separately. The stepwise integration of three semiconducting sulfides, namely ZnS, CdS, and Cu_2?xS, into a single nanocrystal, led to a unique ternary multi‐node sheath ZnS–CdS–Cu_2?xS heteronanorod for full‐spectrum solar energy absorption. Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in the nonstoichiometric copper sulfide nanostructures enables effective NIR absorption. More significantly, the construction of pn heterojunctions between Cu_2?xS and CdS leads to staggered gaps, as confirmed by first‐principles simulations. This band alignment causes effective electron–hole separation in the ternary system and hence enables efficient solar energy conversion.     

CdS量子点敏化ZnO纳米棒阵列电极的制备和光电化学性能

采用连续式离子层吸附与反应法制备了CdS量子点敏化的ZnO纳米棒电极.应用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、X射线衍射(XRD)和透射电子显微镜(TEM)对CdS量子点/ZnO纳米棒电极的形貌、晶型和颗粒尺寸进行了分析和表征;采用光电流-电位曲线和光电流谱研究了不同CdS循环沉积次数及不同沉积浓度对复合电极的光电性能影响.结果表明,前驱体浓度都为0.1mol·L-1且沉积15次敏化后的ZnO纳米棒阵列电极光电性能最好.与单纯的ZnO纳米棒阵列电极和单纯的CdS量子点电极相比,其光电转换效率显著提高,单色光光子-电流转换效率(IPCE)在380nm处达到76%.这是因为CdS量子点可以拓宽光的吸收到可见光区,并且在所形成的界面上光生载流子更容易分离.荧光光谱实验进一步说明了光电增强的原因是,两者间形成的界面中表面态大大减少,有利于减少光生电子和空穴的复合.     

石墨烯修饰三氧化钨/二氧化钛S型异质结增强的光催化产氢活性（英文）

太阳光驱动的光催化分解水产氢是利用太阳能解决当前能源危机和环境问题的理想策略.二氧化钛由于其稳定、环境友好和成本低等优点受到广泛研究,在光催化领域具有不可或缺的作用.然而,纯二氧化钛光催化剂具有光生电子-空穴复合率高、太阳能利用率低等缺点,使其在光催化产氢领域的应用受到限制.迄今为止,人们探索了多种改性策略来提高二氧化钛的光催化活性,如贵金属负载、金属或非金属元素掺杂、构建异质结等.通过复合两个具有合适能带排布的半导体来构建异质结可以大大提高光生载流子的分离,被认为是一种有效的解决方案.最近提出了一种新的S型异质结概念,以解释不同半导体异质界面载流子转移分离的问题.S型异质结是在传统Ⅱ型和Z型(液相Z型、全固态Z型、间接Z型、直接Z型)基础上提出的,但又扬长避短,优于传统Ⅱ型和Z型.通常,S型异质结是由功函数较小、费米能级较高的还原型半导体光催化剂和功函数较大、费米能级较低的氧化型半导体光催化剂构建而成.三氧化钨禁带宽度较小(2.4-2.8 eV),功函数较大,是典型的氧化型光催化剂,也是构建S型异质结的理想半导体光催化剂.根据S型电荷转移机制,三氧化钨/二氧化钛复合物在光辐照下,三氧化钨导带上相对无用的电子与二氧化钛价带上相对无用的空穴复合,二氧化钛导带上还原能力较强的电子和三氧化钨价带上氧化能力较强的空穴得以保留,从而在异质界面上实现了氧化还原能力较强的光生电子-空穴对的分离.同时,石墨烯作为一种蜂窝状碳原子二维材料,是理想的电子受体,在异质结光催化剂中能及时转移电子.而且,石墨烯具有较好的导热性和电子迁移率,光吸收强,比表面积大,可为光催化反应提供丰富的吸附和活性位点,已经被认为是一种重要催化剂载体和光电分解水产氢的有效共催化剂.本文采用简便的一步水热法制备石墨烯修饰的三氧化钨/二氧化钛S型异质结光催化剂.光催化产氢性能测试表明,三氧化钨/二氧化钛/石墨烯复合材料的光催化产氢速率显著提高(245.8μmol g^-1 h^-1),约为纯TiO2的3.5倍.高分辨透射电子显微镜、拉曼光谱和X射线光电子能谱结果证明了TiO2和WO3纳米颗粒的紧密接触,并成功负载在还原氧化石墨烯(rGO)上.X射线光电子能谱中Ti 2p结合能的增加证实TiO2和WO3之间强的相互作用和S型异质结的形成.此外,复合材料中的rGO大大拓展了复合物的光吸收范围(紫外-可见漫反射光谱),增强了光热转换效应,而且rGO与TiO2之间形成肖特基结,促进了TiO2导带电子的转移和分离.总之,WO3和TiO2的S型异质结与TiO2和rGO之间的肖特基异质结的协同效应抑制了相对有用的电子和空穴的复合,有利于氧化还原能力较强的载流子的分离和进一步转移,加速了表面产氢动力学,于是增强了三元复合光催化剂的光催化产氢活性.     

SILAR法制备TiO2/CdS/Co-Pi水氧化光阳极及其性能

采用连续离子层吸附法（SILAR）沉积CdS制备type-Ⅱ异质结TiO₂/CdS光阳极,用光电化学沉积法在TiO₂/CdS表面沉积催化剂（Co-Pi）得到TiO₂/CdS/Co-Pi水氧化光阳极。通过X射线衍射（XRD）仪、扫描电子显微镜（SEM）、X射线光电子能谱（XPS）仪等对样品结构及组成进行分析,证明CdS与Co-Pi已成功负载在TiO₂表面。用已制备的光阳极在中性溶液中模拟水氧化测试,在较低外偏压（0 V（vs Ag/AgCl））和无电子牺牲剂的情况下,即使在可见光照射下,依然得到较高的初始光电流和稳定光电流,分别为1.3和0.5 mA·cm^-2,表明制备的光阳极可以在可见光照下有效地驱动水氧化反应。光电化学池的工作原理为,CdS吸收光子产生光生电子-空穴,TiO₂和Co-Pi分别传输电子和空穴,空穴进行水氧化,电子转移到阴极完成质子还原。     

MoSe2/Ag3PO4复合材料的制备及其可见光降解罗丹明B的光催化性能

通过原位沉积法合成了一种光催化活性强、稳定性高的MoSe2/Ag3PO4复合材料。MoSe2/Ag3PO4形成的异质结构能有效分离光生电子-空穴对,从而提高光催化活性。光生电子从Ag3PO4表面向MoSe2的转移降低了Ag+向金属Ag的可能性。当MoSe2和Ag3PO4的质量分数为1∶5(最优组合)时,MoSe2/Ag3PO4在可见光照射下30 min内降解RhB效率达98%,并且经过4次重复试验,其可见光照射下RhB降解效率仍可达到89%。通过液相色谱/质谱(LC/MS)技术测定光催化过程中产物的变化,提出了MoSe2/Ag3PO4光催化降解RhB的途径。     

Ultrasound‐assisted Synthesis of Ag‐ZnS/rGO and its Utilization in Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline Under Visible Light Irradiation

Recent improvements based on heterojunction nanocomposites have opened new possibilities in photocatalysis. In this research, an ultrasound‐assisted coprecipitation method was used to fabricate silver, zinc sulfide and reduced graphene oxide (Ag‐ZnS/rGO) nanocomposite, and characterization results indicated that 3% Ag‐ZnS spherical nanoparticles are successfully embedded in rGO matrix. The potential of the Ag‐ZnS/rGO, as a visible light active photocatalyst, was assessed through optimizing degradation of Tetracycline (TC) by response surface methodology. It was found that the photocatalytic degradation of TC increased with an increase in the amount of nanocomposite and irradiation time, whereas it decreased with increasing the initial TC concentration. Under the optimal conditions (10 mg L^?1 of TC, 1.25 g L^?1 of Ag‐ZnS/rGO, at pH = 7, and irradiation duration 110 min), more than 90% of the TC was degraded. The study of the mechanism of the photocatalytic process disclosed that the synergistic role of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) induced by Ag nanoparticles and p‐type semiconductor feature of rGO leads to ZnS semiconductor stimulation in the visible light region. Eventually, a pseudo‐first order kinetics model was developed based on the proposed mechanism. The obtained results highlight the role of Ag‐ZnS/rGO nanophotocatalyst toward degradation of some antibiotics under visible light.     

A [001]‐Oriented Hittorf's Phosphorus Nanorods/Polymeric Carbon Nitride Heterostructure for Boosting Wide‐Spectrum‐Responsive Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution from Pure Water

Red phosphorus is a promising photocatalyst with wide visible‐light absorption up to 700 nm, but the fast charge recombination limits its photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity. Now, [001]‐oriented Hittorf's phosphorus (HP) nanorods were successfully grown on polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) by a chemical vapor deposition strategy. Compared with the bare PCN and HP, the optimized PCN@HP hybrid exhibited a significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity, with HER rates reaching 33.2 and 17.5 μmol h^?1 from pure water under simulated solar light and visible light irradiation, respectively. It was theoretically and experimentally indicated that the strong electronic coupling between PCN and [001]‐oriented HP nanorods gave rise to the enhanced visible light absorption and the greatly accelerated photoinduced electron–hole separation and transfer, which benefited the photocatalytic HER performance.     

Fabrication of ZnS/CdS Heterojunction by Using Bimetallic MOFs Template for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation

A new ZnS/CdS heterojunction is constructed through the direct sulfurization of a metal ions exchanged Zn/Cd-MOF precursor(MOF=metal-organic framework material). The composition, structure, morphology, photo-absorption and photoelectric performance of the ZnS/CdS are characterized by powder X-ray diffraction(PXRD), scanning electron microscope(SEM), transmission electron microscope(TEM), diffuse reflection spectrum(DRS), photoelectric current(PEC), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS) and photoluminescence(PL) technologies. Since the metal ions are highly orderly separated by the organic ligands and the inherent porosity of the Zn/Cd-MOF, the as-synthesized ZnS/CdS possesses a large surface area and intimate contact at the heterogeneous interface with uniform ZnS/CdS nanoparticles. The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity of the ZnS/CdS is investigated under visible light irradiation(λ ≥ 420 nm). It exhibits enhanced photocatalytic performance that the optimal ZnS/CdS achieves a maximum average hydrogen production rate of 2348 μmol·h^-1·g^-1. A possible electron transfer mechanism is therefore proposed by the analyses of the Mott-Schottky plots.     

n-p异质结型CdS/BiOBr复合光催化剂的制备及性能

采用两步水热法制备了CdS/BiOBr复合光催化剂,并通过X射线粉末衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)和紫外-可见漫反射光谱(UV-Vis DRS)等手段对其物相、表面结构、光响应性等性质进行了表征.结果表明,合成的CdS/BiOBr复合材料是n-p型异质结,由CdS颗粒裹附在BiOBr纳米球的表面构成,这种结构不仅具有良好的可见光响应范围,且有利于光生电子的迁移,并有效地抑制光生电子/空穴对的复合.通过光催化降解模拟染料废水和光催化脱除模拟含硫燃料评价了CdS/BiOBr复合材料的可见光催化性能.结果表明,6%(质量分数)CdS/BiOBr降解次甲基蓝的拟一级动力学常数分别为BiOBr和CdS的5.3和9.6倍,脱除噻吩的拟一级动力学常数分别为BiOBr和CdS的1.9和3.2倍.CdS/BiOBr具有良好的光催化稳定性,循环使用5次后,降解率仍能达到90%以上.     

硫化镉光催化氧化二苯甲醇的反应及二次电子转移在反应中的作用

本文报道紫精化合物及亚硫酸盐在硫化镉光催化氧化二苯甲醇及其它芳香醇反应中的作用。认为紫精化合物通过二次电子转移作为反应中负氧离子(O2^-)的中继体, 亚硫酸盐通过与硫化镉的价带发生电子转移作用减少光生电子-空穴对的复合, 提高半导体的光催化效率, 同时对硫化镉的腐蚀有抑制作用, 认为提高半导体光催化效率的途径在于有效地促使光生电荷分离。     

Integration of Plasmonic Effects and Schottky Junctions into Metal–Organic Framework Composites: Steering Charge Flow for Enhanced Visible‐Light Photocatalysis

A wide range of light absorption and rapid electron–hole separation are desired for efficient photocatalysis. Herein, on the basis of a semiconductor‐like metal–organic framework (MOF), a Pt@MOF/Au catalyst with two types of metal–MOF interfaces integrates the surface plasmon resonance excitation of Au nanorods with a Pt‐MOF Schottky junction, which not only extends the light absorption of the MOF from the UV to the visible region but also greatly accelerates charge transfer. The spatial separation of Pt and Au particles by the MOF further steers the formation of charge flow and expedites the charge migration. As a result, the Pt@MOF/Au presents an exceptionally high photocatalytic H₂ production rate by water splitting under visible light irradiation, far superior to Pt/MOF/Au, MOF/Au and other counterparts with similar Pt or Au contents, highlighting the important role of each component and the Pt location in the catalyst.     

Biomolecule-Assisted, Environmentally Friendly, One-Pot Synthesis of CuS/Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites with Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance

In this work, we develop a novel environmentally friendly strategy toward one-pot synthesis of CuS nanoparticle-decorated reduced graphene oxide (CuS/rGO) nanocomposites with the use of l-cysteine, an amino acid, as a reducing agent, sulfur donor, and linker to anchor CuS nanoparticles onto the surface of rGO sheets. Upon visible light illumination (λ > 400 nm), the CuS/rGO nanocomposites show pronounced enhanced photocurrent response and improved photocatalytic activity in the degradation of methylene blue (MB) compared to pure CuS. This could be attributed to the efficient charge transport of rGO sheets and hence reduced recombination rate of excited carriers.     

Template‐free Fabrication of ZnS/TiO2 Photocatalyst with Macrochannels

Constructing a porous structure in photocatalysts is an effective strategy for improving the photocatalytic activity because of its enhanced molecule transfer capability and light capturing efficiency. In this work, a hierarchical macro‐/mesoporous ZnS/TiO₂ composite with macrochannels was successfully synthesized without using templates by the simple dropwise addition of an ethanol solution of tetrabutyl titanate and zinc acetate into a sodium sulfide aqueous solution, which was then calcined at 450°C. Compared with pure TiO₂, the ordered porous ZnS/TiO₂ composite exhibited an enhanced photocatalytic activity on methylene blue removal under UV‐light irradiation. The results indicate that the macro‐/mesoporous structure, the large specific surface area, and the heterostructure combination between ZnS and TiO₂ play a synergistic effect on the enhanced photocatalytic activity via improving the light absorption and the diffusion of organic molecules, providing more reactive sites for the photocatalytic reaction and improving the separation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs, respectively. Radical trapping experiments demonstrated that holes (h⁺) and superoxide anion radicals (O₂⁻) play an important role in the photocatalytic oxidation process.     

Synthesis and characterization of ternary nanocomposites of TiO2/rGO/CdS as an efficient catalyst for photo-degradation of methyl orange

Novel ternary composite photocatalysts have been successfully prepared by TiO₂ nanofibers, reduced graphene oxide, and CdS nanoparticles (TiO₂/rGO/CdS) by using electrospinning technique with easy chemical methods. The structures and their properties are examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The structural characterization of the composite reveals that pure TiO₂ NFs and CdS NPs crystalline very well and the reduced graphene oxide is tightly composed with TiO₂ NFs and CdS Nps. The photodegradation of methyl orange (MO) under UV light illumination is significantly enhanced compared with that of bare materials. This ternary composite degrades methyl orange within 75 min. The enhanced photocatalytic degradation performance resulted from effective separation of e–h pairs with rGO sheets and also contributed for high rate degradation efficiency. This novel ternary composite has a potential application of wastewater purification and utilization for energy conversions.     

Au/TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/Graphene Composite with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity Under Both UV and Visible Light Irradiation

Au/TiO₂/graphene composite was synthesized by the combination of electrostatic attraction and photo-reduction method. In the composite, graphene sheets act as an adsorption site for dye molecules to provide a high concentration of dye near to the TiO₂ and Au nanoparticles (NPs), and work as an excellent electron transporter to separate photoinduced e ^?/h ⁺ pairs. Under UV irradiation, photogenerated electrons of TiO₂ are transferred effectively to Au NPs and graphene sheets, respectively, retarding the recombination of electron–hole pairs. Under visible light irradiation, the Au NPs are photo-excited due to the surface plasmon resonance effect, and charge separation is accomplished by the interfacial electron injection from the Au NPs to the conduction band of TiO₂ and then transfer further to graphene sheets. As a result, compared with pure TiO₂, Au/TiO₂/graphene composite exhibited much higher photocatalytic activity for degradation of methylene blue under both UV and visible light irradiation, based on the synergistic effect of Au, graphene in contact with TiO₂, allowing response to the visible light, effective separation of photoinduced charges, and better adsorption of the dye molecules.     

Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue over Hexagonal WO<Subscript>3</Subscript>/Graphene under Visible-Light Irradiation

A series of composites containing hexagonal tungsten trioxide (h-WO₃) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets are synthesized via a modified one-step hydrothermal route without assisted additive. The composites are characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. The new procedure made it possible to increase the reduction degree of GO. Based on the evidence presented hexagonal WO₃ grows on the surface of graphene through chemical interactions with the surface. The visible-light photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue shows that the h-WO₃/rGO composites exhibit superior photocatalytic performance of 96% with a maximum degradation rate achieved under visible-light irradiation for 6 h. The speculations concerning the mechanism of photocatalytic reactions are discussed. The improved photocatalytic activity can be accounted for by the increased adsorption toward chemical species, the enhanced light absorption and an efficient separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and transfer of charge carriers.