1 research outputs found
Bottom-Up Synthesis of Anatase Nanoparticles with Graphene Domains
Using alizarin and titanium isopropoxide,
we have succeeded in preparing a hybrid form of nanostructured graphene–TiO<sub>2</sub> following a bottom-up synthetic approach. This novel graphene-based
composite offers a practical alternative to synthesizing photocatalytically
active materials with maximized graphene–TiO<sub>2</sub> interface.
The molecular precursor alizarin was chosen because it efficiently
binds to TiO<sub>2</sub> through the hydroxyl groups and already possesses
the graphene building block through its anthracene basis. XPS and
Raman spectroscopy proved that the calcined material contained majority
sp<sup>2</sup>-hybridized carbon that formed graphene-like clusters.
XRD data showed the integrated structures maintained their anatase
crystallography, therefore preserving the material’s properties
without going through phase transitions to rutile. The enhanced graphene
and TiO<sub>2</sub> interface was confirmed using DFT computational
techniques. The photocatalytic activity of the graphene–TiO<sub>2</sub> materials was demonstrated through degradation of methylene
blue