Graphene-supported CoPc/TiO2 synthesized by sol-gel–hydrothermal method with enhanced photocatalytic activity for degradation of the typical gas of landfill exhaust

Abstract

This work was focused on the enhanced photocatalytic activity of cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc)/TiO2 under visible light irradiation supported on reduced graphene oxide (RGO). A series of RGO/CoPc/TiO2 nanocomposites were synthesized via sol-gel–hydrothermal method. The photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, BET surface area, Scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectra, Fourier transform infrared spectra, UV–Vis spectra and Photoluminescence spectra. The results demonstrated that the TiO2 existed as anatase phase both of CoPc/TiO2 and RGO/CoPc/TiO2 composites, and the absorption range in visible light of RGO/CoPc/TiO2 composites were broadened further. The photodegradation results of diethyl sulfide, the typical gas of landfill exhaust, under visible light revealed that RGO/CoPc/TiO2 nanocomposites exhibited much higher photocatalytic activity than CoPc/TiO2 and pure TiO2, indicating the ideal amount of RGO was 7.5wt.%, the optimal amount of 7.5% RGO/CoPc/TiO2 composite on each plat was 0.3g and the degradation efficiency of diethyl sulfide was about 90%.Implications: Over the past decades, air pollution has become more and more serious, many countries have reported that the complaints of odor problems related to urban garbage and industry are increasing. This study is beneficial for the exhaust governance of some landfills. Moreover, the process doesn’t involve any expensive oxidizing chemicals and can be performed under normal conditions of temperature and pressure.