• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.51-57
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• 2013

A graphene(GR)-$TiO_2$ composite was synthesized from colloidal mixture of graphene oxide(GO) nanosheets and $TiO_2$ nanoparticles by an aerosol assisted self-assembly. The morphology, specific surface area and pore size of asprepared GR-$TiO_2$ composite were characterized by FE-SEM, BET, and BJH respectively. The shape of GR-$TiO_2$ composite was spherical. The average particle size was 0.5-1 ${\mu}m$ in diameter and the pore diameter ranged 20-50 nm. Photovoltaic characteristics of a mixture of the GR-$TiO_2$ and $TiO_2$ nanoparticles were measured by a solar simulator under simulated solar light. The highest photoelectric conversion efficiency of the mixture photoanode was 5.1%, which was higher than that of $TiO_2$ photoanode.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.295-304
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• 2023

In this paper, a powerful photocatalyst based on carbon nanocomposite is developed in order to obtain a new material applicable in water treatment and especially for the discoloration of effluents used in the textile industry. For that, TiO₂-graphene nanocomposites have been successfully synthesized by a mixture of Functionalized Graphene Sheet (FGS) and tetrachlorotitanium complexes to form FGS-TiO₂ nanocomposite. In the presence of an anionic surfactant, we used a new chemical process to functionalize graphene sheets in order to make them an excellent medium for blocking and preventing the aggregation of TiO₂ nanoparticles. The components of these nanocomposites are characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), which confirms the successful formation of the FGS-TiO₂ nanocomposite. It was found that the TiO₂ nanoparticles were dispersed uniformly on the graphene plane which possesses better charge separation capability than pure TiO₂. The FGS-TiO₂ nanocomposites exhibited higher photocatalytic activity compared to pure TiO₂ for the removal of three dyes: such as Methylene Blue (MB), Bromophenol Blue (BB) and Alizarin Red-S (AR) in water. The removal process was fast and more efficient with FGS-TiO₂ nanocomposite in daylight (in the absence of UV irradiation) compared to pure TiO₂ nanoparticles without and under UV in all pH range.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1263-1271
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• 2013

Graphene oxide (GO)-titania composites have emerged as an attractive heterogeneous photocatalyst that can enhance the photocatalytic activity of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles owing to their potential interaction of electronic and adsorption natures. Accordingly, $TiO_2$-GO mixtures were synthesized in this study using a simple chemical mixing process, and their heterogeneous photocatalytic activities were investigated to determine the degradation of airborne organic pollutants (benzene, ethyl benzene, and o-xylene (BEX)) under different operational conditions. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results demonstrated the presence of GO for the $TiO_2$-GO composites. The average efficiencies of the $TiO_2$-GO mixtures for the decomposition of each component of BEX determined during the 3-h photocatalytic processes were 26%, 92%, and 96%, respectively, whereas the average efficiencies of the unmodified $TiO_2$ powder were 3%, 8%, and 10%, respectively. Furthermore, the degradation efficiency of the unmodified $TiO_2$ powder for all target compounds decreased during the 3-h photocatalytic processes, suggesting a potential deactivation even during such a short time period. Two operational conditions (air flow entering into the air-cleaning devices and the indoor pollution levels) were found to be important factors for the photocatalytic decomposition of BEX molecules. Taken together, these results show that a $TiO_2$-GO mixture can be applied effectively for the purification of airborne organic pollutants when the operating conditions are optimized.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.145-151
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• 2018

Rod shaped Potassium hexatitanate ($K_2Ti_6O_{13}$) was synthesized from colloidal mixture of $TiO_2$, KOH and graphene oxide (GO) by aerosol spray drying and post heat treatment. Firstly, $TiO_2-KOH-GO$ composites were fabricated by aerosol spray drying in argon atmosphere. The composites were then calcined to form a rod shaped morphology of potassium titanate (KTO) in the presence of graphene at $900^{\circ}C$ for 3 h in argon atmosphere. Finally, the rod shaped KTO was obtained after removal of graphene (GR) at $800^{\circ}C$ and 3 h in air atmosphere. Characterization of the synthesized $K_2Ti_6O_{13}$ was carried out using the XRD, BET and FE-SEM. The length and diameter of the synthesized $K_2Ti_6O_{13}$ could be controlled by weight fraction of GO in the aerosol precursor. The length of $K_2Ti_6O_{13}$ rod increased with decreasing its diameter as GO concentration increased. The aspect ratio of the synthesized $K_2Ti_6O_{13}$ rod was controlled from 5 to 13.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.284-290
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• 2019

Ternary MoS₂/graphene (G)-TiO₂ photocatalysts were prepared by a simple hydrothermal method. The morphology, phase structure, band gap, and catalytic properties of the prepared samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, UV-vis spectrophotometry, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area measurement. The H₂ production efficiency of the prepared catalysts was tested in methanol-water mixture under visible light. MoS₂/G-TiO₂ exhibited the highest activity for photocatalytic H₂ production. For 5 wt.% and 1 wt.% MoS₂ and graphene (5MT-1G), the production rate of H₂ was as high as 1989 µmol^-1h^-1. The catalyst 5MT-1G showed H₂ production activity that was ~ 11.3, 5.6, and 4.1 times higher than those of pure TiO₂, 1GT, and 5MT, respectively. The unique structure and morphology of the MoS₂/G-TiO₂ photocatalyst contributed to its improved hydrogen production efficiency under visible light.