Self-Assembled Three-Dimensional Graphene-Based Aerogel with Embedded Multifarious Functional Nanoparticles and Its Excellent Photoelectrochemical Activities

Abstract

Here, a graphene-based aerogel embedded with two types of functional nanoparticles shaped in a three-dimensional (3D) cylindrical architecture was prepared by a facile one-pot hydrothermal process. During the hydrothermal reaction, the uniformly dispersed TiO₂ (P25) and CdS nanoparticles were loaded on the graphene sheets, and the resulting composites were self-assembled into a 3D interconnected network. It is shown that the graphene-based hydrogel and aerogel are appropriate and robust hosts for anchoring different functional nanostructured particles. The outstanding synergistic effect of this ternary graphene-based nanocomposite aerogel is also proved by the excellent photoelectrochemical activity of the as-prepared novel nanocomposite (CdS/P25/graphene) aerogel. As a new photocatalyst, the CdS/P25/graphene aerogel exhibits enhanced light absorption, improved photocurrent, extremely efficient charge separation properties, and superior durability. These excellent properties indicate that the as-prepared CdS/P25/graphene aerogel may have a great potential application in photoelectrochemical hydrogen production from water reduction under sunlight. More importantly, in this study, a significant and pragmatic consideration of integrating multifarious functional nanoobjects into the 3D graphene-based aerogel has been clearly proposed. This could provide new insights into the preparation of functional nanocomposites and facilitate their applications in related areas