TiO2-reduced Graphene Oxide Research Articles

The role of spectral matching in enhancing photocatalytic performance with TiO2-rGO catalysts for metronidazole wastewater elimination

The role of spectral matching in enhancing the photocatalytic degradation of metronidazole using TiO2-reduced graphene oxide (TiO2-rGO) systems is investigated in this study. A rapid, one-step microwave synthesis method was utilized to produce TiO2-rGO composites with varying proportions of graphene oxide. Characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), were employed to elucidate the morphological and structural attributes of the photocatalysts, thereby facilitating their application in photocatalysis. Spectral matching between the photocatalytic material and the irradiation source was identified as critical to the methodology. Experiments conducted under LED light tailored to the absorption spectra of the catalysts demonstrated that the TiO2-rGO system with a 2 % GO composition achieved the highest metronidazole degradation efficiency, reaching 95 % degradation after 120 min of irradiation. Furthermore, the catalyst maintained high reusability, with only a 5 % decrease in efficiency after five cycles of reuse. The Electrical Energy per Order (EEO) was determined to be 3.51 kWh/m3, indicating the system’s high energy efficiency. The study emphasizes the real-world applicability of TiO2-rGO composites for wastewater treatment, particularly in terms of environmental sustainability and operational cost-effectiveness.

Photocatalytic Degradation of Sulfamethoxazole and Enrofloxacin in Water Using Electrospun Composite Photocatalytic Membrane

Photocatalysis has emerged as a promising technology for the removal of emerging contaminants such as antibiotics from water. Fixing photocatalytic materials on polymers to prepare applicable membranes is a feasible method for applying photocatalysis. This study explored the preparation of composite PAN-TiO2 and PAN-TiO2-rGO (PAN-rGTi) photocatalytic membranes by combining TiO2, TiO2-reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) using electrospinning. Characterization through SEM and EDS analysis confirms the composite membrane’s microstructure and elemental composition. The electrospun PAN-TiO2 and PAN-rGTi composite membranes exhibit a stable and efficient photocatalytic performance in degrading sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and enrofloxacin (ENR), two typical antibiotics commonly found in water bodies. Photocatalytic degradation experiments under simulated solar light reveal the superior performance of the composite photocatalytic membranes compared to PAN alone, with a notable increase in the reaction rate constants of PAN-TiO2 (1.8 to 2.2 times for SMX and 3.2 to 4.0 times for ENR) and even higher enhancements for PAN-rGTi (2.8 to 3.0 times for SMX and 5.4 to 6.5 times for ENR) compared to PAN alone. Despite minor decreases (from 97.6% to 90.4%) in activity over five cycles, the photocatalytic composite membranes remain effective, showcasing their stability and recyclability. This study highlights the potential application of PAN-TiO2 and PAN-rGTi composite membranes as sustainable and effective materials for removing emerging contaminants from water. Further exploration should focus on optimizing materials for specific emerging contaminants and improving their application feasibility for wastewater and water treatment and water purification in water bodies.

Reduced graphene oxide-TiO2/sodium alginate/polyacrylamide composite hydrogel for enhanced adsorption-photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue

The discharge of dye wastewater from various industries has emerged as a critical environmental concern, necessitating the implementation of effective methods such as photocatalytic technology to mitigate organic dyes in water. Nevertheless, the poor photocatalytic activityability and low reusability of most semiconductor photocatalysts have hindered their large-scale practical application. In this paper, the reduced graphene oxide-titanium dioxide composite (rGO-TiO2) was prepared via a hydrothermal method and subsequently immobilized onto a three-dimensional structure composed of sodium alginate (SA) and polyacrylamide (PAM) through sunlight-induced polymerization and ionic cross-linking techniques, resulting in the fabrication of a novel photocatalytic composite hydrogel (rGO-TiO2/SA/PAM). The composite hydrogel was found to exhibit good photocatalytic degradation efficiency for methylene blue(MB), achieving complete removal of MB under UV light irradiation for 100 min at pH 7 when using a rGO:TiO2 ratio of 3 wt%. Additionally, the synthesis of rGO-TiO2/SA/PAM effectively harnesses solar resources through simple synthetic steps, enabling easy recovery and separation from dye wastewater (with a recovery rate of approximately after first use). In contrast, nano-TiO2 and rGO-TiO2 exhibit lower recovery rates (∼80%). Furthermore the material demonstrates enhanced selective adsorption-photocatalytic degradation of MB in acid-base dye mixtures under UV light irradiation.

Synthesis of a powerful single copper/tungsten atom oxide photocatalyst dispersed on the surface of a reduced graphene oxide-titanium composite for H2 production and pollutant degradation

The specific activity and selectivity of many catalytic processes have been frequently enhanced, making single-atom catalysis a new frontline in the area of catalysis. In this study, a powerful photocatalyst was synthesized for H2 production and ofloxacin (OFL) degradation, utilizing a catalytically active TiO2-reduced graphene oxide (rGO) support material. A Cu mono-substituted heteropoly acid(HPA) was used to generate surface-dispersed single copper/tungsten atom oxide (SCu/WAO) sites as co-catalysts. Many single atoms were homogeneously deposited on the TiO2-rGO catalyst. A TiO2-SCu/WAO-rGO catalyst was successfully prepared, and the presence of the SCu/WAO species was confirmed using high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), and X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) analyses. The prepared photocatalyst was found to facilitate high rates of H2 production (14.32 mmol/g/h) and a high maximum OFL degradation (98.4%). Additionally, it could effectively substitute current noble metal catalysts as an extremely effective and long-lasting solar radiation-based photocatalyst for renewable H2production and OFL degradation.

Fluorine-functionalized reduced graphene oxide-TiO2 nanocomposites: A new application approach for efficient photocatalytic disinfection and algicidal effect

Using surface functionalization and related applications to 2D materials as innovative solutions to environmental pollution has gained considerable attention among researchers. Fluorinated graphene has derivative-based synergistic components with high thermal and chemical stability because of its structure and bonding. Fluorine-functionalized reduced graphene oxide (rFGO-TiO2) demonstrated enhanced hydrophilicity and wettability, highly efficient photocatalytic disinfection, and an algicidal effect. This study presents the hydrothermal synthesis of rFGO-TiO2 to realize antibacterial properties with high stability, which was conducted against the gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli. To optimize antibacterial performance, the effects of multiple synthetic conditions were investigated. The antibacterial performance was optimized at an rFGO content of 1 wt%, hydrothermal temperature of 200 °C, and hydrothermal time of 1 h. The rFGO–TiO2 composite demonstrated an antibacterial efficiency of 5.76 log under ultraviolet A irradiation for 10 min and around 2 log under visible light. In the absence of light, rFGO–TiO2 took 6 h to reach an antibacterial efficiency of 6 log. Increasing the rFGO content and hydrothermal temperature beyond the optimal conditions reduced the antibacterial efficiency because of the excess rFGO and disruption of rFGO–TiO2 binding. Measurements with electron spin resonance spectroscopy confirmed that hydroxyl radicals and superoxide ions caused stress and damaged the membrane of a cell, which led to cell death.

TiO2–Graphene Oxide and TiO2–Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite Thin Films for Solar Photocatalytic Wastewater Treatment

This research reports on Vis- and solar-active photocatalytic bi-layered films of TiO2 (layer 1) and a composite with TiO2 matrix and graphene oxide or reduced graphene oxide filler (layer 2) obtained by coupling two methods: spray pyrolysis deposition followed by spraying a diluted sol. The thin films crystallinity degree, surface morphology and elemental composition were recorded and the composites were tested in photo-degradation processes, using the standard 10 ppm methylene blue solution, under simulated UV + VIS irradiation conditions using an irradiance measured to be close to the natural one, in continuous flow process, at demonstrator scale; these results were compared with those recorded when using low irradiance values in static regime. The effect of the increase in the graphene oxide content was investigated in the concentration range 1.4%w...10%w and was found to increase the process efficiency. However, the photocatalytic efficiencies increased only by 15% at high irradiance values compared with the values recorded at low irradiance as result of the electron-hole recombination in the composite-thin film. Similar experiments were run using composites having reduced graphene oxide as filler. The interfaces developed between the matrix and the filler were discussed outlining the influence of the filler’s polarity. The thin films stability in aqueous medium was good, confirmed by the results that outlined no significant differences in the surface aspect after three successive photocatalytic cycles.

Polythiophene (PTh)-TiO2-Reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO) Nanocomposite Coating: Synthesis, Characterization, and Corrosion Protection Performance on Low-Carbon Steel in 3.5 wt % NaCl Solution.

The ternary nanocomposite polythiophene (PTh)-TiO2-reduced graphene oxide (rGO) (PTh-TiO2-rGO) was synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization with FeCl3 used as the oxidizing agent. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize the synthesized nanocomposite, followed by its casting on a low-carbon steel (LCS) substrate using N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) as a solvent and an epoxy resin and triethyl tetraamine as a binder and curing agent, respectively. Anticorrosion properties of the PTh-TiO2-rGO nanocomposite in 3.5 wt % NaCl solution were established using open-circuit potential (OCP), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), salt spray test, immersion test, contact angle (CA) measurements, water uptake test, and SEM. Additionally, PTh and PTh-TiO2 were separately synthesized, characterized, and subjected to anticorrosion tests following identical synthesis routes for comparison purposes. The results of the investigations demonstrated that the PTh-TiO2-rGO nanocomposite coating provides superior protection in 3.5 wt % NaCl solution compared to pure PTh and PTh-TiO2 coatings, which are evident from its lowest corrosion current density (I corr) (0.570 × 10-6 A cm-2), highest positive shift in corrosion potential (E corr) (-0.578 V), highest impedance and phase angle (3.56 × 103 Ω cm2 and 70°, respectively), highest hydrophobicity (CA 94°), and highest protection efficiency (99%). These results show that the proposed nanocomposite coating provides better corrosion protection in a 3.5 wt % NaCl solution than other coatings.

Effects of TiO2-Modified RGO Composites on the Mechanical and Durability Properties of Ordinary Portland Cement Mortars

Various applications of graphene-based materials in construction are an alternative to improve the properties of ordinary Portland cement (OPC)-based binders. This paper used a titanium dioxide in situ intercalation method to enhance the dispersibility of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and then explored the effects of the incorporation of the obtained TiO2–RGO composite and RGO on the mechanical and durability-related properties of the OPC-based binders. Experimental results showed that TiO2 was successfully intercalated into the RGO layers and could improve the dispersion of RGO in water or synthesized OPC pore solution significantly, probably due to the greater spacing between each RGO layer. Besides, a proper amount of TiO2-modified RGO composite (0.03 wt % in this study) could elevate the mechanical strengths of OPC mortars, evidenced by a large increment of 24.78% and up to 34.94% in the compressive strength and flexural strength, respectively. The TiO2–RGO composite led to higher flexural-to-compressive strength ratios with the given dosages (0.01–0.05 wt %), implying a higher fractural toughness. Moreover, the resistance of the enhanced OPC-based mortars toward chloride attacks and freeze–thaw cycles was significantly improved. Based on the microstructural analyses including scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction results, it is found that the modified RGO could to some extent promote the hydration of OPC and densify the overall microstructure of bulk specimens, leading to enhanced mechanical and durability properties. Compared to normal RGO, the TiO2–RGO composite was more effective in enhancing the properties of OPC mortars, due in large part to its better dispersion state.

Construction of ultrasensitive electrochemical sensor using TiO2-reduced graphene oxide nanofibers nanocomposite for epinephrine detection

A facile sensing platform was established for the electrochemical detection of epinephrine using titanium dioxide-reduced graphene oxide nanofibers (TiO2-rGO NFs) nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode. The TiO2-rGO NFs were prepared using electrospinning followed by hydrothermal method, characterized by various state-of-the-art techniques, and the fabricated sensor were characterized by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. Using the optimal experimental conditions potential scan rate, linear correlation between analytical signal and concentration of 10–100 nM with a detection limit of 8.11 nM, and sensitivity 0.126 µA µM−1 were observed. The constructed sensor were evaluated the sensing of epinephrine in human serum and drug injection samples. The developed electrochemical sensor provides a potential candidate for the accurate sensing of epinephrine in biological fluids and pharmaceutical drugs.

Bimetallic platinum–ruthenium nanoparticles immobilized on reduced graphene oxide-TiO2 (RGO-TiO2) support for ethanol electro oxidation in acidic media

The present work addresses the potentialities of Pt–Ru nanoparticles deposited on a graphene oxide (RGO) and TiO2 composite support towards electrochemical oxidation of ethanol in acidic media relevant for fuel cell applications. To immobilize platinum–ruthenium bimetallic nanoparticles on to an RGO-TiO2 nanohybrid support a simple solution-phase chemical reduction method is utilized. An examination using electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) indicated that Pt–Ru particles of 4–8 nm in diameter are dispersed on RGO-TiO2 composite support. The corresponding Pt–Ru/RGO-TiO2 nanocomposite electrocatalyst was studied for the electrochemical oxidation of ethanol in acidic media. Compared to the commercial Pt–Ru/C and Pt/C catalysts, Pt–Ru/RGO-TiO2 nanocomposite yields higher mass-specific activity of about 1.4 and 3.2 times, respectively towards ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR). The synergistic boosting provided by RGO-TiO2 composite support and Pt–Ru ensemble together contributed to the observed higher EOR activity and stability to Pt–Ru/RGO-TiO2 nanocomposite compared with other in-house synthesized Pt–Ru/RGO, Pt/RGO and commercial Pt–Ru/C and Pt/C electrocatalysts. Further optimization of RGO-TiO2 composite support provides opportunity to deposit many other types of metallic nanoparticles onto it for fuel cell electrocatalysis applications.

Enhancing Free Cyanide Photocatalytic Oxidation by rGO/TiO2 P25 Composites.

Graphene-TiO2 composites have been investigated in various photocatalytic reactions showing successful synergy compared to pristine TiO2. In the present work, graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized by the Hummers method and then reduced graphene oxide-TiO2 composites (rGO/TiO2) were obtained by an in situ GO photoreduction route. X-ray diffraction, FTIR, Raman, UV–vis DRS, and photoluminescence were the main characterization techniques. The obtained composites containing 1 and 3 wt.% rGO were evaluated in the cyanide (50 mg/L) oxidation and Au-cyanide complex (300 mg/L) degradation under UV-A light. The composites showed higher photocatalytic activity than TiO2, mainly with the 1% rGO content. Cyanate and gold nanoparticles, deposited on the photocatalyst’s surface, were the main byproducts during the photocatalyst assessment. The improved photocatalytic activity of the composites was attributed to a higher rate of electron transfer and a lower rate of charge recombination due to the chemical interaction of rGO with TiO2.

Improved Performance for the Electrochemical Sensing of Acyclovir by Using the rGO-TiO2-Au Nanocomposite-Modified Electrode.

An electrochemical sensor for sensitive sensing of acyclovir (ACV) was designed by using the reduced graphene oxide–TiO2–Au nanocomposite-modified glassy carbon electrode (rGO–TiO2–Au/GCE). Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometer, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to confirm morphology, structure, and composition properties of the rGO–TiO2–Au nanocomposites. Cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry were used to demonstrate the analytical performance of the rGO–TiO2–Au/GCE for ACV. As a result, rGO–TiO2–Au/GCE exerted the best response for the oxidation of ACV under the pH of 6.0 PB solution, accumulation time of 80 s at open-circuit, and modifier amount of 7 µl. The oxidation peak currents of ACV increased linearly with its concentration in the range of 1–100 µM, and the detection limit was calculated to be 0.3 µM (S/N = 3). The determination of ACV concentrations in tablet samples also demonstrated satisfactory results.

A Selective Electrochemical Sensor Based on Titanium Dioxide-Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite (TiO2- RGO/GCE) for the Efficient Determination of Nitrite

ABSTRACT A nitrite sensing platform has been constructed using a TiO2-reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanocomposite incorporated into a glassy carbon electrode. Reduced graphene oxide is integrated in a simple technique for the manufacture of titanium dioxide (TiO2). Spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques have all been used to characterise the TiO2- RGO nanocomposite. In 3 mM and pH 6.0 phosphate buffer solutions, the TiO2-reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites tailored glassy carbon electrode demonstrated outstanding electro-catalytic nitrite oxidation activity. The square root of scan rate is also proportional to the oxidation peak current, showing that the nitrite redox reaction involves a diffusion-controlled mechanism. Using linear sweep voltammetry, the sensitivity and detection limit for nitrite at the modified electrode were determined to be 4.853 μA/μM cm2 and 0.006 µM respectively, over a concentration range of 10 - 2000 µM. Further, the nanocomposite is used to measure NO2- in water and buttermilk samples quantitatively.

Graphene oxide-supported highly porous TiO2 nanoleaflets for the ultrafast adsorption and photochemical decomposition of 2,4,6-trinitrotolune in water

Synthesis of a novel, reduced graphene oxide TiO2 nanoleaflets composite as a photocatalyst for the removal of trinitrotoluene explosive from water is reported.

Achieving of high utilization of reduced graphene Oxide-TiO2 nanoparticle composites via oxygen bonds for enhanced optical limiting performance

With the development of laser technology, the importance of laser protection has put an urgent demand for high-performance optical confinement materials. Herein, reduced Graphene oxide -TiO2 (rGO-TiO2) nanocomposites were rationally prepared by solvothermal method, and the rGO nanoparticles were homogeneously grown by oxygen bonding to improve the optical confinement properties. By using Z scanning system (1030 nm, 340fs), the nonlinear properties of rGO-TiO2 nanocomposites were measured to show theoretical nonlinear coefficients with 572.01 × 10−3 cm/GW, 136.17 × 10−3 cm/GW at 10.4 GW/cm2 and 20.8 GW/cm2, respectively, which are 5–20 times of pure GO. Furthermore, the normalized transmittance of the rGO-TiO2 nanocomposites reaches a minimum of 30%, showing that the materials have good nonlinear and optical limit (OL) properties, indicating that this work expands the choice of optical limit materials.

Facile in-situ synthesis of reduced graphene oxide/TiO2 nanocomposite: a promising material for the degradation of methyl orange

Titanium oxide (TiO2) and reduced graphene oxide-TiO2 (r-GO/TiO2) layered nano-composite were synthesized by the one step hydrothermal method. In this study, one step hydrothermal technique is adopted for the facile and in-situ synthesis of r-GO/TiO2 nano-composite. Crystal structure, surface morphology, chemical composition of TiO2 and r-GO/TiO2 layered nano-composite were investigated by Powder XRD, TEM, FT-IR, UV, and Raman spectroscopy. The unique feature of resultant r-GO/TiO2 nano-composite template is intercalation of TiO2 nanoparticles with well dispersion between graphene layers. The synthesized material was investigated for application in photocatalytic activity using UV light irradiation for degradation of methyl orange dye. The result shows that the(r-GO/TiO2) layered nano-composite effectively photodegrade methyl orange, showing almost double photocatalytic activity (∼1.82 times) in comparison to pristine TiO2 and commercially available TiO2 (P25).

Porous TiO2/rGO nanocomposites prepared by cold sintering as efficient electrocatalyst for nitrogen reduction reaction under ambient conditions

Haber–Bosch process as the current dominant artificial NH3 production process in industry, requires relatively high temperature (350–550 °C) and pressure (150–350 atm). Electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) as a green and sustainable strategy for ammonia production has raised intensive research interest in recent years but still remains a significant challenge because of the lack of high performance electrocatalysts. In this work, porous TiO2-reduced graphene oxide (TiO2/rGO) nanocomposite as self-supporting efficient electrocatalyst for NRR under ambient conditions were prepared by cold sintering associated with sacrificial template method. The porous TiO2/rGO nanocomposite with grain size of ∼40 nm were prepared by cold sintering process at 220 °C and 147 MPa. Given the 220 °C as cold sintering temperature, anatase TiO2 were preserved as the final phase which exhibit much better NRR electrocatalytic performance than the rutile phase. The oxygen vacancy densities in the nanocomposites were also tuned by heat treatment at 450 °C under different atmosphere, while samples heat treated under H2/Ar atmosphere gave the best electrocatalytic NRR performance with a FE of 8.88 % and an NH3 yield of 7.75 μg h−1 cm−2 at ambient conditions. Experiments also shows that the addition of rGO significantly improved the electrocatalytic NRR performance especially the conductivity. This work not only designed a framework of ceramic nanocomposites based self-supporting and durable electrocatalysts system but also paves a feasible way towards preparing electrocatalysts that are sensitive to high temperature fabrication process.

The role of graphene oxide and its reduced form in the in situ photocatalytic growth of silver nanoparticles on graphene-TiO2 nanocomposites

Graphene oxide or reduced graphene oxide-TiO2 (TGO or TRGO) nanocomposites were decorated with Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the photoreduction method. The photocatalytic growth of AgNPs on TGO and TRGO nanocomposites was compared, while keeping the other parameters (i.e., thickness, chemical composition, crystalline structure and the percentage of an area of TiO2 covered by GO or RGO flakes) unchanged. The morphology, structure and chemical composition of TGO-Ag or TRGO-Ag nanocomposites were investigated with the use of SEM-EDS, XPS and Raman spectroscopy. AgNPs were found to be distributed on the surface of TiO2 and on GO or RGO flakes. In-depth research undertaken to explain the effect of GO or RGO used in nanocomposites with TiO2 on the growth of AgNPs showed that there were considerable differences in size and distribution of AgNPs grown on TiO2 and on GO/RGO areas covering TiO2. In addition, the number (n) and size (d) of AgNPs on TGO (n = 37AgNPs/µm2; d = 29 ± 3 nm) or TRGO (n = 34AgNPs/µm2; d = 32 ± 3 nm) do not differ significantly. The theoretical calculations of the weight of silver deposited on the same sample showed that the mass of silver was, on average, twice as high on both types of graphene (9.1(TGO) and 11.2(TRGO) pg/µm2) as on TiO2 (4.8(TGO) and 5.7(TRGO) pg/µm2).

Binary TiO2/RGO photocatalyst for enhanced degradation of phenol and its application in underground coal gasification wastewater treatment

In this work, we synthesized the TiO2/reduced graphene oxide (TiO2/RGO) binary nanohybrids through the sol-anaerobic calcination method, the TiO2 nanoparticles belonging to anatase type were evenly loaded on RGO surface in the form of Ti–O–C bond. The enhanced photocatalytic performance can be ascribed to the existence of RGO that can effectively promote the transfer of photo-induced electron-hole pairs to generate more hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and superoxide anion (O2·-) degrading phenol. The TiO2/RGO nanocomposite with weight ratio of RGO to TiO2 (37.0%–55.7%) had achieved maximum degradation of phenol from aqueous solution, and about 97.87% of phenol had been removed within 180 min under UV-light illumination. Through GC-MS tracking of phenol degradation process, it can be observed that long-chain intermediates will be generated, and these intermediates will eventually be degraded, confirming that phenol can be completely removed. Additionally, around 67% TOC of simulated underground coal gasification (UCG) wastewater can be removed after 10 h degradation using TiO2/RGO binary composites as photocatalysts. All these results demonstrate that the binary nanohybrids possess great potential for the organic contaminants destruction from the actual coal chemical wastewater.

Robust self-cleaning effects of cotton fabrics coated with reduced graphene oxide (RGO)-titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanocomposites

The self-cleaning textiles coated with reduced graphene oxide-titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanocomposites have enhanced photocatalytic activities and could have great potential in practical applications. However, it is still problematic regarding how to avoid aggregation of reduced graphene oxide nanosheets in producing reduced graphene oxide-TiO2 nanocomposites. In this research article, we propose a new method to reduce the aggregation of reduced graphene oxide nanosheets in producing cotton fabrics coated with reduced graphene oxide-TiO2 nanocomposites by combining vibration-assisted ball milling and hydrothermal synthesis process. The microstructure and photocatalytic-related properties of the resultant reduced graphene oxide-TiO2 nanocomposites and their coating cotton fabrics were characterized by using a series of techniques including field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), Raman, particle size distribution, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller,(BET), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS), diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscope (UPS), and photoluminescence (PL). It was indicated that the aggregation of reduced graphene oxide nanosheets in reduced graphene oxide-TiO2 nanocomposites was successfully avoided via ball milling in the presence of tetrabutyl titanate. After hydrothermal treatment, the resulting reduced graphene oxide-TiO2 nanocomposites were firmly immobilized on cotton fabric. It was demonstrated in the self-cleaning experiments that the resultant self-cleaning cotton fabrics are hydrophilic and could directly decompose color contaminants such as methylene blue, Congo red, and coffee stains under simulated sunlight irradiation due to the photo-degradation reactions of the reduced graphene oxide-TiO2 nanocomposite coating. The reduced graphene oxide-TiO2 nanocomposite-modified cotton fabric also exhibited excellent performance in both robust abrasion resistance and soap-washing resistance. The fabric photocatalytic self-cleaning capability was not found to decrease significantly after being repeatedly used for five times.