Selective laser texturing of dual-functional CTO/rGO film to enhance photocatalytic activity and self-cleaning capability

Abstract

Utilizing selective laser texturing technology, calcium titanate integrated with reduced graphene oxide (CTO/rGO) films is prepared with patterned surface which was endowed for the first time with dual functions of hydrophilicity and anti-reflection, aiming to improve the reusability of photocatalyst and to enhance the practicability of photocatalytic degradation technology. The patterned film was verified to possess excellent photocatalytic activity and recyclability, the pseudo-first-order rate constant k of which was improved up to 45 % compared with the primitive film and even much better than of the CTO/rGO photocatalyst powder. In addition, the degradation rate of the used film can be significantly recovered to 89.06 % after combined treatment with ultrasound and UV, maintaining its long-term stable degradation ability. On the one hand, the improved hydrophilicity was beneficial to increase the contact area between the contaminants and the photocatalytic film surface, which will provide more reaction sites and make it much easier to remove the residual dye absorbed on the surface; on the other hand, the enhance of anti-reflection performance will improve the utilization rate of the incident light, thus increasing the photocatalytic activity of the patterned film. This study provides new ideas and methods for the preparation of efficient and stable photocatalytic film.