Reduction Band Gap Energy of TiO₂Assembled with Graphene Oxide Nanosheets

This research work aims to reduce the band gap of thin layers of titanium oxide by the incorporation of graphene oxide sheets. Thin layers of the TiO2-GO composites were prepared on a glass substrate by the spin-coating technique from GO and an aqueous solution of TiO2. A significant decrease in optical band gap was observed at the TiO2-GO compound compared to that of pure TiO2. Samples as prepared were characterized using XRD, SEM and UV-visible spectra. XRD analysis revealed the amorphous nature of the deposited layers. Scanning electron microscope reveals the dispersion of graphene nanofiles among titanium oxide nanoparticles distributed at the surface with an almost uniform size distribution. The band gap has been calculated and is around 2 eV after incorporation of Graphene oxide. The chemical bond C-Ti between the titanium oxide and graphene sheets is at the origin of this reduction.

Double Hydrothermal Synthesis of Graphene Supported TiO_2(b)Nanosheets as Anode Materials for Lithium Ion Batteries

The synthesis of graphene supported TiO2（b） nanosheets by a double hydrother- mal method for lithium storage was reported. The titanate nanosheets synthesized by the first hydrothermal progress and the graphene oxide obtained by the oxidation of graphite were hydrothermally treated together to fabricate the TiO2（b）/graphene composite. The electrochemical measurements illustrate that the graphene supporter obviously improves the cyclic performance of TiO2（b）, which can be attributed to the better dispersion and the decrease of resistance for the TiO2（b） nanosheets in the composite.

Boosting the catalytic activity toward oxygen reduction via a heterostructure of porous iron oxide-decorated 2D NiO/NG nanosheets

As a noble metal substitute,two-dimensional(2D)hierarchical nano-frame structures have attracted great interest as candidate catalysts due to their remarkable advantages-high intrinsic activity,high electron mobility,and straightforward surface functionalization.Therefore,they may replace Pt-based catalysts in oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)applications.Herein,a simple method is developed to design hierarchical nano-frame structures assembled via 2D NiO and N-doped graphene(NG)nanosheets.This procedure can yield nanostructures that satisfy the criteria correlated with improved electrocatalytic performance,such as large surface area,numerous undercoordinated atoms,and high defect densities.Further,porous NG nanosheet architectures,featuring NiO nanosheets densely coordinated with accessible holey Fe_(2)O_(3) moieties,can enhance mesoporosity and balance hydrophilicity.Such improvements can facilitate charge transport and expose formerly inaccessible reaction sites,maximizing active site density utilization.Density functional theory(DFT)calculations reveal favored O_(2) adsorption and dissociation on Fe_(2)O_(3) hybrid structures when supported by 2D NiO and NG nanomaterials,given 2D materials donated charge to Fe_(2)O_(3) active sites.Our systematic studies reveal that synergistic contributions are responsible for enriching the catalytic activity of Fe_(2)O_(3)@NiO/NG in alkaline media-encompassing internal voids and pores,unique hierarchical support structures,and concentrated N-dopant and bimetallic atomic interactions.Ultimately,this work expands the toolbox for designing and synthesizing highly efficient 2D/2D shelled functional nanomaterials with transition metals,endeavoring to benefit energy conversion and related ORR applications.

Synthesis of graphene/tourmaline/TiO_2 composites with enhanced activity for photocatalytic degradation of 2-propanol

We report the construction of a graphene/tourmaline/TiO2(G/T/TiO2)composite system with enhanced charge‐carrier separation,and therefore enhanced photocatalytic properties,based on tailoring the surface‐charged state of graphene and/or by introducing an external electric field arising from tourmaline.A simple two‐step hydrothermal method was used to synthesize G/T/TiO2composites and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)‐G/T/TiO2composites.In the photocatalytic degradation of2‐propanol(IPA),the catalytic activity of the composite containing negatively charged graphene was higher than of the composite containing positively charged graphene.The highest acetone evolution rate(223?mol/h)was achieved using the ternary composite with the optimum composition,i.e.,G0.5/T5/TiO2(0.5wt%graphene and5wt%tourmaline).The involvement of tourmaline and graphene in the composite is believed to facilitate the separation and transportation of electrons and holes photogenerated in TiO2.This synergetic effect could account for the enhanced photocatalytic activity of the G/T/TiO2composite.A mechanistic study indicated that O2??radicals and holes were the main reactive oxygen species in photocatalytic degradation of IPA.

Confining TiO_2 Nanotubes in PECVD-Enabled Graphene Capsules Toward Ultrafast K-Ion Storage: In Situ TEM/XRD Study and DFT Analysis

Titanium dioxide(TiO2) has gained burgeoning attention for potassium-ion storage because of its large theoretical capacity,wide availability,and environmental benignity.Nevertheless,the inherently poor conductivity gives rise to its sluggish reaction kinetics and inferior rate capability.Here,we report the direct graphene growth over TiO2 nanotubes by virtue of chemical vapor deposition.Such conformal graphene coatings effectively enhance the conductive environment and well accommodate the volume change of TiO2 upon potassiation/depotassiation.When paired with an activated carbon cathode,the graphene-armored TiO2 nanotubes allow the potassium-ion hybrid capacitor full cells to harvest an energy/power density of 81.2 Wh kg-1/3746.6 W kg-1.We further employ in situ transmis sion electron microscopy and ope rando X-ray diffraction to probe the potassium-ion storage behavior.This work offers a viable and versatile solution to the anode design and in situ probing of potassium storage technologies that is readily promising for practical applications.

Atomic Layer Coated Al_(2)O_(3) on Nitrogen Doped Vertical Graphene Nanosheets for High Performance Sodium Ion Batteries

Heteroatom doped graphene materials are considered as promising anode for high-performance sodium-ion batteries(SIBs).Defective and porous structure especially with large specific surface area is generally considered as a feasible strategy to boost reaction kinetics;however,the unwanted side reaction at the anode hinders the practical application of SIBs.In this work,a precisely controlled Al_(2)O_(3)coated nitrogen doped vertical graphene nanosheets(NVG)anode material has been proposed,which exhibits excellent sodium storage capacity and cycling stability.The ultrathin Al_(2)O_(3)coating on the NVG is considered to help construct an advantageous interface between electrode and electrolyte,both alleviating the electrolyte decomposition and enhancing sodium adsorption ability.As a result,the optimal Al_(2)O_(3)coated NVG materials delivers a high reversible capacity(835.0 mAh g^(-1))and superior cycling stability(retention of 92.3%after 5000 cycles).This work demonstrates a new way to design graphene-based anode materials for highperformance sodium-ion batteries.

Synthesis and Optimization of TiO_(2)/Graphene with Exposed {001} Facets Based on Response Surface Methodology and Evaluation of Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity

Response surface methodology(RSM)was employed to optimize the control parameters of TiO_(2)/graphene with exposed{001}facets during synthesis,and its enhanced photocatalytic activities were evaluated in the photodegradation of toluene.Experimental results were in good agreement with the predicted results obtained using RSM with a correlation coefficient(R^(2))of 0.9345.When 22.06 mg of graphite oxide(GO)and 2.09 mL of hydrofluoric acid(HF)were added and a hydrothermal time of 28 h was used,a maximum efficiency in the degradation of toluene was achieved.X-ray diffraction(XRD),transmission electron microscopy(TEM),and scanning electron microscopy(SEM)were employed to characterize the obtained hybrid photocatalyst.The electron transferred between Ti and C retarded the combination of electron–hole pairs and hastened the transferring of electrons,which enhanced the photocatalytic activity.

Catalytic performance and synthesis of a Pt/graphene-TiO_2 catalyst using an environmentally friendly microwave-assisted solvothermal method

A Pt/graphene‐TiO2catalyst was prepared by a microwave‐assisted solvothermal method and was characterized by X‐ray diffraction,scanning electron microscopy,transmission electron microscopy,cyclic voltammetry,and linear sweep voltammetry.The cubic TiO2particles were approximately60nm in size and were distributed on the graphene sheets.The Pt nanoparticles were uniformly distributed between the TiO2particles and the graphene sheet.The catalyst exhibited a significant improvement in activity and stability towards the oxygen reduction reaction compared with Pt/C,which resulted from the high electronic conductivity of graphene and strong metal‐support interactions.

TiO_2/graphene nanocomposites as anode materials for high rate lithium-ion batteries

A simple strategy to prepare a hybrid of nanocomposites of anatase TiO2/graphene nanosheets （GNS） as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries was reported.The morphology and crystal structure were studied by X-ray diffraction （XRD）,field emission scanning electron microscopy （FE-SEM） and transmission electron microscopy （TEM）.The electrochemical performance was evaluated by galvanostatic charge-lischarge tests and alternating current （AC） impedance spectroscopy.The results show that the TiO2/GNS electrode exhibit higher electrochemical performance than that of TiO2 electrode regardless of the rate.Even at 500 mA/g,the capacity of TiO2/GNS is 120.3 mAh/g,which is higher than that of TiO2 61.6 mAh/g.The high performance is attributed to the addition of graphene to improve electrical conductivity and reduce polarization.

Preparation of TiO2 Nanocrystals/Graphene Composite and Its Photocatalytic Performance

TiO2 nanocrystals/graphene （TiO2/GR） composite are prepared by combining flocculation and hydrothermal reduction technology using graphite oxide and TiO2 colloid as precursors. The obtained materials are examined by scanning electron microscopy, transition electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption desorption, and ultraviolet-visible diffuse spectroscopy. The results suggest that the presence of TiO2 nanocrystals with diameter of about 15 nm prevents GR nanosheets from agglomeration. Owing to the uniform distribution of TiO2 nanocrystals on the GR nanosheets, TiO2/GR composite exhibits stronger light absorption in the visible region, higher adsorption capacity to methylene blue and higher efficiency of charge separation and transportation compared with pure TiO2. Moreover, the TiO2/GR composite with a GR content of 30% shows higher photocatalytic removal efficiency of MB from water than that of pure TiO2 and commercial P25 under both UV and sunlight irradiation.

Enhanced Removal of Tetracycline from Aqueous Solution by Graphene Oxide Hydrogel Doped with TiO_2 Nanotubes

The detection on tetracycline( TC) in drinking water poses an environmental issue since TC has been widely used to prevent animal disease and promote their growth. In addition,TC was difficult to remove or biodegrade,which posed a challenge to the conventional techniques. In this work,the batch experiments on TC adsorption in aqueous solution of hydrogel( HG) consisting of graphene oxide( GO) and TiO_2 nanotubes( TN) were successfully conducted. HG composite( HG-TN-GO) was prepared with TN and GO with self-assembly method during the oxidation-reduction reaction,and criogel( CG) with TN and GO was characterized by pH at point of zero charge( pH_(pzc)), transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy( XPS). The adsorption capacity of HG-TN-GO on TC was evaluated by analyzing its isotherms. The maximum adsorption capacity reached 751. 3 mg/g. Besides,the adsorption isotherms were well fitted by the Langmuir model, with the theoretical maximum( q_m) of 797. 0 mg/g. The adsorption process was systematically studied by varying pH during the whole adsorption process. The adsorption occurred probably via π-π interaction and cation-π bonding between TC and the HG-TN-GO surface. The composite could be regenerated in 50% ethanol aqueous solution,without significant capacity loss. After 6 recycles,the decrease of adsorption capacity was less than 10%.

Engineering two-dimensional pores in freestanding TiO_2/graphene gel film for high performance lithium ion battery

As the key component of electrochemical energy storage devices, an electrode with superior ions transport pores is the important premise for high electrochemical performance. In this paper, we developed a unique solution process to prepare freestanding TiO_2/graphene hydrogel electrode with tunable density and porous structures. By incorporating room temperature ionic liquids（RTILs）, even upon drying, the non-volatile RTILs that remained in the gel film would preserve the efficient ion transport channels and prevent the electrode from closely stacking, to develop dense yet porous structures. As a result, the dense TiO_2/graphene gel film as an electrode for lithium ion battery displayed a good gravimetric electrochemical performance and more importantly a high volumetric performance.

Photo-depositing Ru and RuO2 on Anatase TiO2 Nanosheets as Co-catalysts for Photocatalytic O2 Evolution from Water Oxidation

TiO2 nanosheets mainly exposed （001） facet were prepared through a hydrothermal process with HF as the morphology-directing agent. Ru and RuO2 species were loaded by photo-deposition methods to prepare the photocatalysts. The structural features of the catalysts were characterized by X-ray di raction, transmission electron microscopy, inductively cou-pled plasma atomic emission spectrum, and H2 Temperature-programmed reduction. The photocatalytic property was studied by the O2 evolution from water oxidation, which was examined with respect to the in uences of Ru contents as well as the oxidation and reduction treatments, suggesting the charge separation effect of the Ru species co-catalysts on di erent facets of TiO2 nanosheets. In contrast to Ru/TiO2 and RuO2/TiO2 with the single deposited co-catalyst, the optimized catalyst 0.5%Ru-1.0%RuO2/TiO2 with dual co-catalysts achieved a much improved catalytic performance, in terms of the synergetic effect of dual co-catalysts and the enhanced charge separation effect.

Construction of 2D-2D TiO_2 nanosheet/layered WS_2 heterojunctions with enhanced visible-light-responsive photocatalytic activity

Constructing nanocomposites that combine the advantages of composite materials,nanomaterials,and interfaces has been regarded as an important strategy to improve the photocatalytic activity of TiO2.In this study,2D‐2D TiO2 nanosheet/layered WS2(TNS/WS2)heterojunctions were prepared via a hydrothermal method.The structure and morphology of the photocatalysts were systematically characterized.Layered WS2(~4 layers)was wrapped on the surface of TiO2 nanosheets with a plate‐to‐plate stacked structure and connected with each other by W=O bonds.The as‐prepared TNS/WS2 heterojunctions showed higher photocatalytic activity for the degradation of RhB under visible‐light irradiation,than pristine TiO2 nanosheets and layered WS2.The improvement of photocatalytic activity was primarily attributed to enhanced charge separation efficiency,which originated from the perfect 2D‐2D nanointerfaces and intimate interfacial contacts between TiO2 nanosheets and layered WS2.Based on experimental results,a double‐transfer photocatalytic mechanism for the TNS/WS2 heterojunctions was proposed and discussed.This work provides new insights for synthesizing highly efficient and environmentally stable photocatalysts by engineering the surface heterojunctions.

3D MoS_(2)/graphene nanoflowers as anode for advanced lithium-ion batteries

Vertical MoS2nanosheets were controllably patterned onto graphene as nanoflowers through a two-step hydrothermal method. The interconnected network and intimate contact between MoS2nanosheets and graphene by vertical channels enabled a high mechanical integrity of electrode and cycling stability. In particular, MoS2/graphene nanoflowers anode delivered an ultrahigh specific capacity of 901.8 mA·h/g after 700 stable cycles at 1000 mA/g and a corresponding capacity retention as 98.9% from the second cycle onwards.

Graphene Quantum Dot‑Mediated Atom‑Layer Semiconductor Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen Evolution

The hydrogen evolution reaction performance of semiconducting 2H-phase molybdenum disulfide(2H-MoS_(2))presents a significant hurdle in realizing its full potential applications.Here,we utilize theoretical calculations to predict possible functionalized graphene quantum dots(GQDs),which can enhance HER activity of bulk MoS_(2).Subsequently,we design a functionalized GQD-induced in-situ bottom-up strategy to fabricate near atom-layer 2H-MoS_(2) nanosheets mediated with GQDs(ALQD)by modulating the concentration of electron withdrawing/donating functional groups.Experimental results reveal that the introduction of a series of functionalized GQDs during the synthesis of ALQD plays a crucial role.Notably,the higher the concentration and strength of electron-withdrawing functional groups on GQDs,the thinner and more active the resulting ALQD are.Remarkably,the synthesized near atom-layer ALQD-SO_(3)demonstrate significantly improved HER performance.Our GQD-induced strategy provides a simple and efficient approach for expanding the catalytic application of MoS_(2).Furthermore,it holds substantial potential for developing nanosheets in other transition-metal dichalcogenide materials.

SnS_2 nanosheets arrays sandwiched by N-doped carbon and TiO_2 for high-performance Na-ion storage

In this paper, SnS_2 nanosheets arrays sandwiched by porous N-doped carbon and TiO_2(TiO_2@SnS_2@N-C) on flexible carbon cloth are prepared and tested as a free-standing anode for high-performance sodium ion batteries. The as-obtained TiO_2@SnS_2@N-C composite delivers a remarkable capacity performance(840 mA h g^(-1) at a current density of 200 mA g^(-1)), excellent rate capability and long-cycling life stability(293 mA h g^(-1) at 1 A g^(-1) after 600 cycles). The excellent electrochemical performance can be attributed to the synergistic effect of each component of the unique hybrid structure, in which the SnS_2 nanosheets with open framworks offer high capacity, while the porous N-doped carbon nanoplates arrays on flexible carbon cloth are able to improve the conductivity and the TiO_2 passivation layer can keep the structure integrity of SnS_2 nanosheets.

Enhanced Adsorption of Methyl Orange onto Self-assembled Hydrogel with Anatase Titania Nanotube and Graphene

A novel composites hydrogel adsorbent was facilely synthesized for efficient removal of acid dyes from aqueous solution.The composite hydrogel consisting of TiO_2 nanotubes(TN) and graphene oxide(GO)(H-TN-GO) was characterized by BrunauerEmmett-Teller(BET),transmission electron microscope(TEM),scanning electron microscope(SEM),Raman spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscope(XPS).Experimental results elucidated that columnar hydrogel could be tunably prepared with self-assembly by adjusting the proportion of GO/TN,mixing time and pH.The properties of adsorption and regeneration on methyl orange(MO)onto H-TN-GO were investigated respectively.The maximal adsorption capacity of H-TN-GO for MO reached 933.8 and 513.7mg/g under the pH of 4.0 and 6.8,respectively.The adsorption capacity of MO reached the maximum when pH was equivalent to4.0,which attributed to increasing electrostatic attraction.Besides,the adsorption behavior was fitted reasonably better with Freundlich isotherm model than Langmuir model;the adsorption speed was rapid and the removal ratio almost reached 99.5% when the concentration of MO was less than 100 mg/L.After the used adsorbent was irradiated with the ultraviolet ray of 500 W for 3 h,its adsorption capacity could be recovered without significant loss.

Synthesis and characterization of anatase TiO_2 nanosheet arrays on FTO substrate

We have exploited a green approach to prepare layered titanate Na2_xHxTi2Os-H20 nanosheet arrays on FFO substrate by hydrothermal hydrolysis of titanium（IV） isopropoxide （TRIP） with aids of Na2EDTA and TEOA as co-coordination agents, which were then treated by HNO3 to replace Na＋ by H＋, followed by a calcination at 450℃ to topotactically transform into anatase TiO2 nanosheet arrays. SEM, TEM, XRD, and Raman spectroscopy have been employed to characterize the nanosheet films. The TiO2 nanosheet arrays were further applied as electron transport materials of CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite solar cells, achieving power conversion efficiency of 6.99%.

rGO改性TiO_2薄膜的制备及光催化性能

氧化石墨烯-二氧化钛(GO-TiO_2)前驱体溶胶经浸渍-提拉成薄膜,再经热处理、紫外辐照还原得到还原氧化石墨烯-二氧化钛(rGO-TiO_2)薄膜.利用XRD、Raman、SEM对薄膜进行表征分析.通过光催化还原Ag+以及光催化降解甲基橙研究GO加入量对rGO-TiO_2薄膜光催化性能的影响;并将光催化还原Ag+后的薄膜直接用于降解甲基橙.结果表明:薄膜中TiO_2的晶相为锐钛矿相与金红石相的混合晶相,GO部分被还原为rGO;薄膜表面平整,片状rGO均匀镶嵌其中;当GO质量分数为1.0%和1.5%时,rGO-TiO_2薄膜的光催化性能接近,光催化还原Ag+的效率为93%左右,光催化降解甲基橙的效率为92%左右;光催化还原Ag+后的薄膜直接用来降解甲基橙,其降解效率明显提高.