Synthesis and Characterization of a Photocatalytic Material Based on Raspberry-like SiO₂@TiO₂ Nanoparticles Supported on Graphene Oxide

Abstract

A raspberry-like SiO2@TiO2 new material supported on functionalized graphene oxide was prepared to reduce titania’s band gap value. The material was characterized through different analytical methods such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The band gap value was studied via UV-Vis absorption spectra and determined through the Kubelka–Munk equation. A theoretical study was also carried out to analyze the interaction between the species.

Keywords

• TiO₂ nanoparticles
• SEM
• TEM
• HR-TEM
• DFT analysis