Transfiguring UV light active "metal oxides" to visible light active photocatayst by reduced graphene oxide hypostatization

Abstract

This work explains about the visible light photocatalytic activities of wide band gap metal oxides (TiO2, ZnO, CeO2, Eg > 3.0 eV) after the overture of reduced graphene oxide. The reduced graphene oxide and metal oxide heterostructures (RGO-MO) Ca. RGO-TiO2, RGO-ZnO, RGO-CeO2 were synthesized through microwave, template assisted, and hydrothermal methods respectively. This explains about the activity of the photocatalysts towards hydrogen production via water splitting, water treatment towards inorganic contaminants with or without dye sensitization activity as well. RGO-MO having particle size 5-10 nm which shows great activity towards various photocatalytic activities. Pure TiO2, CeO2 and ZnO are UV active semiconductors having wide band gap 3.2 eV. However, when these semiconductors are modified with RGO they are showing better visible light activity towards photoreduction of Chromium (VI) and hydrogen production by half reaction of water.