Exfoliated graphite/titanium dioxide nanocomposites for photodegradation of eosin yellow

Thabile Ndlovu; Alex T. Kuvarega; Omotayo A. Arotiba; Srinivasan Sampath; Rui W. Krause; Bhekie B. Mamba

doi:10.1016/j.apsusc.2014.02.027

Exfoliated graphite/titanium dioxide nanocomposites for photodegradation of eosin yellow

Thabile Ndlovu, Alex T. Kuvarega, Omotayo A. Arotiba, Srinivasan Sampath, Rui W. Krause, Bhekie B. Mamba

Chemical Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

25 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

An improved photocatalyst consisting of a nanocomposite of exfoliated graphite and titanium dioxide (EG-TiO ₂ ) was prepared. SEM and TEM micrographs showed that the spherical TiO ₂ nanoparticles were evenly distributed on the surface of the EG sheets. A four times photocatalytic enhancement was observed for this floating nanocomposite compared to TiO ₂ and EG alone for the degradation of eosin yellow. For all the materials, the reactions followed first order kinetics where for EG-TiO ₂ , the rate constant was much higher than for EG and TiO ₂ under visible light irradiation. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of EG-TiO ₂ was ascribed to the capability of graphitic layers to accept and transport electrons from the excited TiO ₂ , promoting charge separation. This indicates that carbon, a cheap and abundant material, can be a good candidate as an electron attracting reservoir for photocatalytic organic pollutant degradation.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	159-164
Number of pages	6
Journal	Applied Surface Science
Volume	300
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2014.02.027
Publication status	Published - 1 May 2014

Keywords

Exfoliated graphite
Nanocomposite
Photocatalysis
Photodegradation
Visible light
Water pollution

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Condensed Matter Physics
Surfaces, Coatings and Films
Surfaces and Interfaces

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.apsusc.2014.02.027

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@article{2912050a937b4a6d83ad18e0672ede9f,

title = "Exfoliated graphite/titanium dioxide nanocomposites for photodegradation of eosin yellow",

abstract = " An improved photocatalyst consisting of a nanocomposite of exfoliated graphite and titanium dioxide (EG-TiO 2 ) was prepared. SEM and TEM micrographs showed that the spherical TiO 2 nanoparticles were evenly distributed on the surface of the EG sheets. A four times photocatalytic enhancement was observed for this floating nanocomposite compared to TiO 2 and EG alone for the degradation of eosin yellow. For all the materials, the reactions followed first order kinetics where for EG-TiO 2 , the rate constant was much higher than for EG and TiO 2 under visible light irradiation. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of EG-TiO 2 was ascribed to the capability of graphitic layers to accept and transport electrons from the excited TiO 2 , promoting charge separation. This indicates that carbon, a cheap and abundant material, can be a good candidate as an electron attracting reservoir for photocatalytic organic pollutant degradation.",

keywords = "Exfoliated graphite, Nanocomposite, Photocatalysis, Photodegradation, Visible light, Water pollution",

author = "Thabile Ndlovu and Kuvarega, {Alex T.} and Arotiba, {Omotayo A.} and Srinivasan Sampath and Krause, {Rui W.} and Mamba, {Bhekie B.}",

year = "2014",

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doi = "10.1016/j.apsusc.2014.02.027",

language = "English",

volume = "300",

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journal = "Applied Surface Science",

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publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

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T1 - Exfoliated graphite/titanium dioxide nanocomposites for photodegradation of eosin yellow

AU - Ndlovu, Thabile

AU - Kuvarega, Alex T.

AU - Arotiba, Omotayo A.

AU - Sampath, Srinivasan

AU - Krause, Rui W.

AU - Mamba, Bhekie B.

PY - 2014/5/1

Y1 - 2014/5/1

N2 - An improved photocatalyst consisting of a nanocomposite of exfoliated graphite and titanium dioxide (EG-TiO 2 ) was prepared. SEM and TEM micrographs showed that the spherical TiO 2 nanoparticles were evenly distributed on the surface of the EG sheets. A four times photocatalytic enhancement was observed for this floating nanocomposite compared to TiO 2 and EG alone for the degradation of eosin yellow. For all the materials, the reactions followed first order kinetics where for EG-TiO 2 , the rate constant was much higher than for EG and TiO 2 under visible light irradiation. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of EG-TiO 2 was ascribed to the capability of graphitic layers to accept and transport electrons from the excited TiO 2 , promoting charge separation. This indicates that carbon, a cheap and abundant material, can be a good candidate as an electron attracting reservoir for photocatalytic organic pollutant degradation.

AB - An improved photocatalyst consisting of a nanocomposite of exfoliated graphite and titanium dioxide (EG-TiO 2 ) was prepared. SEM and TEM micrographs showed that the spherical TiO 2 nanoparticles were evenly distributed on the surface of the EG sheets. A four times photocatalytic enhancement was observed for this floating nanocomposite compared to TiO 2 and EG alone for the degradation of eosin yellow. For all the materials, the reactions followed first order kinetics where for EG-TiO 2 , the rate constant was much higher than for EG and TiO 2 under visible light irradiation. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of EG-TiO 2 was ascribed to the capability of graphitic layers to accept and transport electrons from the excited TiO 2 , promoting charge separation. This indicates that carbon, a cheap and abundant material, can be a good candidate as an electron attracting reservoir for photocatalytic organic pollutant degradation.

KW - Exfoliated graphite

KW - Nanocomposite

KW - Photocatalysis

KW - Photodegradation

KW - Visible light

KW - Water pollution

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84896491268&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.apsusc.2014.02.027

DO - 10.1016/j.apsusc.2014.02.027

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84896491268

SN - 0169-4332

VL - 300

SP - 159

EP - 164

JO - Applied Surface Science

JF - Applied Surface Science

ER -

Exfoliated graphite/titanium dioxide nanocomposites for photodegradation of eosin yellow

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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