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String and Ball-Like TiO2/rGO Composites with High Photo-catalysis Degradation Capability for Methylene Blue

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Abstract

Novel three-dimensional string and ball-like titanium dioxide/reduced graphene oxide, TiO2/rGO (STG) composites were prepared using a one-step hydrolysis process followed by a low-temperature hydrothermal treatment. The STG composites exhibited excellent photo-catalytic degradation performance for methylene blue owing to a good synergistic effect between TiO2 and rGO. The STG composites with 1.0 wt% of rGO loading exhibited the highest removal rate of 86.0% for methylene blue and its reaction rate constant (5.27 × 10−3 min−1) was much higher than those of pure string and ball-like TiO2 (ST). In addition, the STG composites also showed an outstanding capability for the photo-catalysis degradation of other cationic dyes. In addition, a possible photo-catalytic degradation mechanism for the STG composite was postulated, in which \(^{ \bullet } {\text{O}}_{2}^{ - }\) and •OH were the main oxidizing groups. This work offers new insights into a better design and preparation of novel composite materials for the removal of organic dyes.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (“863” Program, No. 2012AA063504), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 21276193, 215111300020, 201405008, and U1407116), and the Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin, China (No. 13JCZDJC35600).

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  1. School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China

    Fengyun Xu & Ping Na

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  1. Fengyun Xu
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Correspondence to Ping Na.

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Xu, F., Na, P. String and Ball-Like TiO2/rGO Composites with High Photo-catalysis Degradation Capability for Methylene Blue. Trans. Tianjin Univ. 24, 272–281 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12209-018-0119-9

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