TiO2–rGO nanocomposites with high rGO content and luminescence quenching through green redox synthesis

Abstract

We developed TiO2–rGO nanocomposites with high exfoliated rGO content upto 47.1% (TG4) by weight hitherto not reported, through green redox synthesis. Progressive reduction of TiO2 nanocrystal size and their in situ intercalation occurred on increasing rGO via one pot synthesis, not reported previously and forming highly stable Ti–O–C bonds. With increase in rGO content, the exfoliation in the nanocomposite was also limited to single-few layered graphene oxide sheets through use of ascorbic acid avoiding restacking, and thereby the recombination of photogenerated carriers. TG4 showed 50% photoluminescence (PL) quenching indicating long-lived electron transfer state with rGO and apparent rate of nonradiative excited state decay of 1.15 × 108 s−1. Details of lattice orientation, Raman spectra, electronic states and PL lifetime decay are discussed to elucidate effective charge carrier separation in the nanocomposite. Near complete photodegradation of Alizarin Yellow GG azo dye, an industrial pollutant, could be obtained under direct sunlight using TG4 as catalyst.