Graphene-based, photocatalytic structures have attracted significant research attention due to enhanced material properties. When common photocatalysts such as TiO2 are paired with graphene, which exists as an electron acceptor, an overall decrease in recombination kinetics of separated holes and electrons has been observed, leading to increased reactions (via availability) of holes and radicals � thus higher (photo)reactivity. To date, most studies have focused on oxidation reaction pathways (and applications), while targeted photocatalytic reduction pathways, taking advantage of the available/separated electrons, have not been well established. In this work, catalytic (photo)reduction by novel crumpled graphene oxide-TiO2 (CGO-TiO2) nanocomposites, which are uniquely designed to encapsulate TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) within crumpled graphene oxide (CGO) nanosheets via aerosol route, is described for two applications: (1) photocatalytic reduction of CO2 is demonstrated and evaluated, aimed at the production of hydrocarbon fuels. (2) in-situ growth of Ag NP on graphene oxide (GO) surfaces via reduction of soluble Ag+ for sustainable, regenerative antibacterial (surface) strategies. As-prepared CGO-TiO2 demonstrated significantly enhanced reduction performance for both, as compared to pristine TiO2 NPs. A maximal CO yield of over 700 �mol/g-cat/hr can be achieved with optimal TiO2 percentage of 5 wt.%; and, Ag NPs can be rapidly synthesized, via photoreduction, in-situ on GO surfaces. High antibacterial activity of the as-produced ternary nanocomposites (CGO-TiO2-Ag) was subsequently confirmed with model E. coli surface growth/activity evaluations. Together, this work highlights the potential of engineered CGO-TiO2 photocatalysts for a variety of environmentally significant reduction applications.

Engineered crumpled graphene nanocomposites for photocatalytic environmental reduction applications

248th National Meeting (2014)

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