Graphene oxide: Exploiting its unique properties toward visible-light-driven photocatalysis

The oxygen-containing functionalities on the aromatic scaffold of graphene oxide (GO) enable these materials to facilitate both ionic and non-ionic interactions with a huge range of molecules. Endowed with a plethora of extraordinary properties, GO demonstrates remarkable potential in the field of photo catalysis. Furthermore, the tunability of its physiochemical properties by the facile exploitation of surface modifications and edge defects renders GO an even more intriguing nanomaterial. In this paper, the fundamental aspects on the manipulation of GO for the enhancement in photocatalytic performance will be thoroughly discussed. To mediate further research and development in this area, the current technical challenges faced as well as future research directions will also be included in this paper. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.