Visible-light photo-assisted synthesis of GO-TiO2 composites for the photocatalytic hydrogen production

The main aim of this study is to propose a fast and simple synthesis method for GO-TiO2 nanocomposites, which present self-tuning optoelectronic properties, advantageous features, for their application towards the photocatalytic hydrogen production. Graphene oxide (GO) was prepared through a modification of the Tour method from powder graphite by applying a microwave pretreatment. GO-TiO2 nanocomposites were synthesized by visible-light assisted anchoring, while the study of morphology, crystalline structure, size, surface area and optical characterization of the material was carried out by SEM, XRD, TEM, BET and UV-Vis spectroscopy, respectively. Photocatalytic activity evaluation of the composite material (GO-TiO2) towards hydrogen production through the water splitting reaction from water under visible light was followed by gas chromatography, reaching a production of 6500 mu molH(2)/g, thus showing an enhancement effect compared to the conventional H-2 production using TiO2 only. (C) 2018 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.