Graphene quantum dots decorated rutile TiO2 nanoflowers for water splitting application

Flower like rutile TiO2 films were decorated with green-photoluminescent graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and photovoltaic properties were investigated for water splitting application. Rutile TiO2 nanoflowers (NFs) and GQDs (average width of similar to 12 nm) synthesized separately using a hydrothermal method and TiO2 NFs were decorated with various amounts of GQDs solution (x = 5, 10, 15 and 20 mu L) by spin coating. Optical characterization reveals that GQDs are highly luminescent and absorb UV and visible light photons with wavelengths up to 700 nm. GQD(s-x)/TiO2 electrode shows a photocurrent enhancement of similar to 95% compared to pristine TiO2 NFs for the optimum sample (x = 15 mu L) at an applied potential of P = 0 V using 1 M Na2SO4 solution as electrolyte. (C) 2017 Science Press and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science Press. All rights reserved.