Clean synthesis of reduced graphene- TiO2 composites in ionic liquid

A facile and fast method of preparing composites of graphene and TiO₂ nanoparticles via a microwave-assisted synthesis in an ionic liquid ([bmim][BF₄]) was reported. Titanium (IV) isopropoxide (Ti(OiPr)₄) was used as precursor for forming of TiO₂ nanoparticles onto graphene sheets by the thermal decomposition under microwave irradiation. The as-prepared composites were characterized by BET surface area, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmitted electron microscopy (TEM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The TiO₂ nanoparticles were found to be anatase of 9 nm average size and the obtained composites had high surface areas and high photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue.