Reduced graphene oxide–titanate hybrids: Morphologic evolution by alkali-solvothermal treatment and applications in water purification

The reduced graphene oxide–titanate (RGO–Ti) hybrids were fabricated by incorporating spherical TiO2 nanoparticles with graphene oxide (GO) layers in aqueous NaOH solution following by the solvothermal treatment. The morphologic evolution of RGO–Ti hybrid by varying alkali-solvothermal temperatures has been first investigated. The titanate nanosheets peeled off, folded and scrolled into tubular structure; and eventually, cracked and destroyed to be ribbon-like shape. The chemical interaction and attachment of low-dimensional titanate onto RGO layers and the reverse order were elucidated by X-ray photoelectron spectra. The hybrids in sheet and tubular titanate structures possessed larger surface areas (>350 m2/g) and higher pore volumes (>1 cm3/g) than the other. The presence of RGO sheets as a two-dimensional (2D) platform for the deposition of titanate significantly promoted much better adsorptivity of dye contaminants compared to pure materials.