Preparation and photocatalytic activity of TiO2-exfoliated graphite oxide composite using an ecofriendly graphite oxidation method

A simple and effective stepwise-method was developed to produce expanded exfoliated graphite oxide (EGO). Using a combination of ozone exposure and thermal treatment we demonstrate that a graphite surface can be modified to generate a graphene-like surface containing oxygen and sp3 carbon. This expanded exfoliated graphite oxide is useful for the production, through thermal treatment, of photocatalytic TiO2-EGO composites which are more active than those produce by the Hummers method. The photocatalytic activity of TiO2-EGO in methylene blue (MB) bleaching under UV light is enhanced in comparison with TiO2 P25. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.