Preparation of ZnS-Graphene/TiO2 Composites Designed for Their High Photonic Effect and Photocatalytic Activity Under Visible Light

Abstract

In this study, ZnS combined graphene/TiO2 (ZGT) composites were prepared by a sol–gel method to improve the photocatalytic performance of TiO2. These composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The photocatalytic activities were examined by the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation. The photodegradation rate of MB under visible light irradiation reached 90.1% after 150 minutes. The kinetics of MB degradation was plotted alongside the values calculated from the Langmuir–Hinshelwood equation. The 0.2 ZnS-graphene/TiO2 sample showed the best photocatalytic activity, which was attributed to cooperative reaction due to an increase of the photo-absorption effect by graphene and the photocatalytic effect by ZnS.