Two-dimensional interface engineering of a titania-graphene nanosheet composite for improved photocatalytic activity

A graphene-based two-dimensional (2D) nanoplatform provides new opportunities for fabricating 2D heterojunction interfaces to fortify charge transfer in semiconductor assemblies. In this report, TiO2 nanosheet/graphene composite based 2D-2D heterojunctions were fabricated by a solvothermal process. Microscopic and spectroscopic characterization revealed a homogeneous sheetlike morphology with intimate interfacial contact between the TiO2 nanosheet and graphene due to chemical interactions. Compared with 0D-2D Degussa P25 (TiO2)/graphene and 1D-2D TiO2 nanotube/graphene composites, the 2D-2D TiO2 nanosheet/graphene hybrid demonstrated higher photocatalytic activity toward the degradation of rhodamine B and 2,4-dichlorophenol under UV irradiation. Radical trapping and ESR experiments revealed the enhanced generation of ·OH and O2(•-) in the 2D-2D heterojunction system. By analyzing TiO2 excited state deactivation lifetime, the interfacial electron transfer rates determined for 0D-2D, 1D-2D, and 2D-2D TiO2/graphene composites were 1.15 × 10(8) s(-1), 3.47 × 10(8) s(-1), and 1.06 × 10(9) s(-1), respectively. It was therefore proposed that the fast charge separation in the TiO2 nanosheet/graphene photocatalyst promoted the generation of reactive oxygen species and enhanced the photodegradation reactions. The results underscore the key role of nanomaterial dimensionality in interfacial charge transfer processes.