Restructural confirmation and photocatalytic applications of graphene oxide–gold composites synthesized by Langmuir–Blodgett method

Abstract

We present a first report on the use of Langmuir Blodgett (LB) technique for the synthesis of edge decorated graphene oxide gold (GO–Au) nanostructures by simple manipulation of electrostatic interactions. The GO–Au nanostructures when characterized using spectroscopy, surface, chemical and micro structural techniques, displayed unique physical and structural properties. The results re-established the theoretical corroboration that the carboxyl groups are primarily located at the edges of the 2D sheets of GO. The exploitation of air–water interface platform makes this process novel and fundamentally different from existing protocols for synthesis of GO–metal composites. These GO–Au hybrid materials favoured visible-light driven plasmonic photo catalysis together with enhanced charge separation and transportation properties, resulting in the augmentation of photocatalytic activity and conductivity with high transmittance. A plausible reaction mechanism for the degradation of pollutant dye and the role of gold nanoparticles (NPs) on GO has been established.