Abstract
Graphene as a well-known electron cocatalyst can enhance the hydrogen-production performance of photocatalysts due to its excellent conductivity. For highly efficient graphene-modified TiO2 photocatalyst, besides the speedy electron transfer via graphene, it is significant to raise the interfacial hydrogen-generation reaction rate on the graphene surface. In this paper, thiourea (TU) can covalently functionalize graphene and act as effective H+-adsorbed active sites to improve the hydrogen-production efficiency of graphene-modified TiO2 (TiO2/rGO-TU). The TiO2/rGO-TU sample was successfully prepared by a facile nucleophilic substitution reaction between the thiol (-SH) of thiourea and carboxyl (-COOH) of graphene. The TiO2/rGO-TU could possess the maximum H2-generation rate of 241.83 μmol h−1 g−1, which was 2.33 and 6.60 times greater than that of TiO2/rGO and TiO2, respectively. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of TiO2/rGO-TU can be ascribed to the synergistic effect of graphene and thiourea, namely, the graphene functions as a cocatalyst to capture the photoexcited electrons of TiO2 and the thiourea acts as effectual H+-adsorbed active sites to promote interfacial hydrogen generation. This study presents a feasible strategy for developing grephene-based photocatalysts for prospective applications in the hydrogen-production field.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
