The hazardous Rhodamine-B dye is photocatalytically degraded by anatase TiO 2 and its graphene nanocomposites. These are prepared by a simple electrochemical anodic dissolution of pure titanium in graphene oxide solution, here particle size is tuned by current variation. The structural, morphological and optical properties of these composites are studied by X-ray diffraction, UV-visible spectroscopy, field emission SEM, high resolution TEM and XPS. The photocatalytic activity of Rhodamine-B in water is studied with visible and UV light irradiation. A significant degradation is observed with 1 wt% of reduced graphene oxide with TiO 2 nanoparticles. The stability and reproducibility are tested by recycling the catalyst for more than five times. The results are interpreted in terms of energy band alignment of TiO 2 -graphene interface with respect to energy levels of Rhodamine-B molecule through water redox potentials. The present work demonstrates that these composites are novel and cost effective in photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine-B and hence are potential materials for environmental remedy. Results and DiscussionThe pure TiO 2 and TiO 2 -reduced Graphene Oxide (TiO 2 /rGO) composite results are discussed separately. Figure 1 represents the normalized optical absorption spectra of the tuned TiO 2[a] R.

In this work, a simple two step synthesis of Titanium dioxide / Reduced graphene oxide / Copper sulfide (TiO2/rGO/CuS) and its improved photocatalytic activity is reported. TiO2/rGO is prepared by electrochemical anodization of Ti metal in NaCl‐graphene oxide solution as an electrolyte. Later CuS is incorporated to TiO2/rGO to form the composite TiO2/rGO/CuS by chemical precipitation at room temperature. The optical properties, phase and morphology of the material is characterized by UV‐visible spectroscopy, X‐ ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity is tested by the degradation of hazardous Rhodamine‐B dye under ultraviolet and visible light exposures. An enhancement of photocatalytic activity is observed in TiO2/rGO/CuS as compared to pure TiO2 or TiO2/rGO nanocomposites. The enhancement is mainly due to wide range of optical absorption of CuS and the interfaced rGO, which facilitates the efficient charge separation and charge transport. The present material exhibits superior stability that is tested by its recycling photocatalytic activity.

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