Fe doped TiO2-graphene nanostructures: synthesis, DFT modeling and photocatalysis.

In this work, Fe-doped TiO(2) nanoparticles ranging from a 0.2 to 1 weight % were grown from the surface of graphene sheet templates containing -COOH functionalities using sol-gel chemistry in a green solvent, a mixture of water/ethanol. The assemblies were characterized by a variety of analytical techniques, with the coordination mechanism examined theoretically using the density functional theory (DFT). Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy images showed excellent decoration of the Fe-doped TiO(2) nanoparticles on the surface of the graphene sheets >5 nm in diameter. The surface area and optical properties of the Fe-doped photocatalysts were measured by BET, UV and PL spectrometry and compared to non-graphene and pure TiO(2) analogs, showing a plateau at 0.6% Fe. Interactions between graphene and Fe-doped anatase TiO(2) were also studied theoretically using the Vienna ab initio Simulation Package based on DFT. Our first-principles theoretical investigations validated the experimental findings, showing the strength in the physical and chemical adsorption between the graphene and Fe-doped TiO(2). The resulting assemblies were tested for photodegradation under visible light using 17ß-estradiol (E2) as a model compound, with all investigated catalysts showing significant enhancements in photocatalytic activity in the degradation of E2.

Growing TiO2 nanowires on the surface of graphene sheets in supercritical CO2: characterization and photoefficiency.

Tremendous interest exists towards synthesizing nanoassemblies for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) using earth-abundant and -friendly materials with green synthetic approaches. In this work, high surface area TiO(2) nanowire arrays were grown on the surface of functionalized graphene sheets (FGSs) containing -COOH functionalities acting as a template by using a sol-gel method in the green solvent, supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO(2)). The effect of scCO(2) pressure (1500, 3000 and 5000 psi), temperature (40, 60 and 80 °C), acetic acid/titanium isopropoxide monomer ratios (HAc/TIP = 2, 4 and 6), functionalized graphene sheets (FGSs)/TIP weight ratios (1:20, 1:40 and 1:60 w/w) and solvents (EtOH, hexane) were investigated. Increasing the HAc/TIPweight ratio from 4 to 6 in scCO(2) resulted in increasing the TiO(2) nanowire diameter from 10 to 40 nm. Raman and high resolution XPS showed the interaction of TiO(2) with the -COOH groups on the surface of the graphene sheets, indicating that graphene acted as a template for polycondensation growth. UV-vis diffuse reflectance and photoluminescence spectroscopy showed a reduction in titania's bandgap and also a significant reduction in electron-hole recombination compared to bare TiO(2) nanowires. Photocurrent measurements showed that the TiO(2)nanowire/graphene composites prepared in scCO(2) gave a 5× enhancement in photoefficiency compared to bare TiO(2) nanowires.