Graphene encapsulated hollow TiO2 nanospheres: Efficient synthesis and enhanced photocatalytic activity

Zhang J, Zhu Z, Tang Y, Feng X (2013)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2013

Journal

Journal of Materials Chemistry A Royal Society of Chemistry

Book Volume: 1

Pages Range: 3752-3756

Journal Issue: 11

DOI: 10.1039/c3ta01386c

Abstract

Graphene encapsulated mesoporous hollow TiO2 nanospheres (GT NSs), consisting of small TiO2 grains, have been successfully prepared via a novel graphene protected calcination process. This method involves preparation of SiO2 nanospheres and sequential coating of the TiO2 layer, co-assembly of amine-modified TiO2- SiO2 nanospheres and graphene oxide (GO), calcination mediated transformation of the TiO2 layer into anatase TiO2, thermal reduction of graphene oxide to graphene, and final etching of the inner SiO2 template to produce GT NSs. Graphene plays a substantial role in inhibiting the aggregation of TiO2 grains during the high-temperature treatment. A high specific surface area up to 133 m2 g-1 for GT NSs can be obtained when the weight ratio of modified TiO2-SiO2 spheres to GO is 100:2 (GT NSs-2). Benefiting from the electron transfer from inner hollow TiO2 to outer graphene shells, graphene can substantially suppress the recombination of photo-excited electrons and holes. As a result, GT NSs-2 exhibits excellent photocatalytic activity for the decomposition of rhodamine B (RhB) with an efficiency up to 91% in 90 min, much higher than 65% for TiO2 NSs without involving graphene protection, and 71% for the blended catalyst of TiO2 NSs and reduced GO (TiO2-G). © 2013 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Involved external institutions

Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) / 中国科学院 CN China (CN) Shanghai Jiao Tong University / 上海交通大学 CN China (CN) Max-Planck-Institut für Polymerforschung (MPI-P) / Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Zhang, J., Zhu, Z., Tang, Y., & Feng, X. (2013). Graphene encapsulated hollow TiO2 nanospheres: Efficient synthesis and enhanced photocatalytic activity. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 1(11), 3752-3756. https://doi.org/10.1039/c3ta01386c

MLA:

Zhang, Jian, et al. "Graphene encapsulated hollow TiO2 nanospheres: Efficient synthesis and enhanced photocatalytic activity." Journal of Materials Chemistry A 1.11 (2013): 3752-3756.

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