Self-assembly of different graphene-modified morphologies of TiO2: nanoparticle, nanorod and nanowire for bisphenol-A photodecomposition

Different graphene (GR)-modified morphologies of TiO₂ including nanoparticles, nanorods and nanowires were prepared by a simple and efficient electrostatic self-assembly method followed by a hydrothermal reduction process. Characterisations reveal that different morphologies of TiO₂ are distributed on GR and that they decrease the electron-hole recombination rate and extend the light absorption range compared with pure TiO₂. The as-prepared different morphologies of GR-modified TiO₂ nanocomposites are used to photodecompose bisphenol-A in water under visible-light irradiation. All morphologies of TiO₂ anchored onto the surface of a GR sheet exhibit higher photocatalytic activity under irradiation than pure TiO₂. Photocatalytic activity is also increased by the increase in length of TiO₂ distributed on GR. The photodegradation activities of all GR/TiO₂ nanocomposites are stable under light after three successive cycles.