Synthesis of WO₃@Graphene composite for enhanced photocatalytic oxygen evolution from water

Abstract

Nano tungsten oxide (WO3) particles were synthesized on the surface of graphene (GR) sheets by using a simple sonochemical method. The obtained composite, WO3@GR, was characterized by X-ray diffraction, N2adsorption/desorption analysis, thermo-gravimetric analysis, Raman spectroscopy and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra measurements. It was found that chemical bonds between the nano WO3 particles and the GR sheets were formed. The average particle size of the WO3 was evidenced to be around 12 nm on the GR sheets. When used as photocatalyst for water splitting, the amount of evolved O2 from water for the WO3@GR composite with 40 wt% GR inside was twice and 1.8 times as much as that for pure WO3 and mixed-WO3/GR, respectively. The excellent photocatalytic property of the WO3@GR composite is due to the synergistic effects of the combined nano WO3 particles and GR sheets. The sensitization of WO3 by GR enhances the visible light absorption property of WO3@GR. The chemical bonding between WO3 and GR minimizes the interface defects, reducing the recombination of the photo-generated electron–hole pairs. Furthermore, the GR sheets in the WO3@GR composite enhance electrons transport by providing low resistance conduction pathways, leading to improved photo-conversion efficiency. The methodology opens up a new way of obtaining photoactive GR-semiconductor composites for photodissociating water under visible light.