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In the present paper, the graphene−ZnO composite with quasi-shell−core structure was successfully prepared using a one-step wet chemical method. The photocatalytic Rhodamine B degradation property and the photoelectrochemical performance of the graphene−ZnO quasi-shell− core composite are dependent on the amount of graphene oxide that is added. When the amount of graphene oxide added is 10 mg, the graphene−ZnO quasi-shell−core composite possesses the optimal photocatalytic degradation efficiency and the best photoelectrochemical performance. An efficient interfacial electric field is established on the interface between the graphene and ZnO, which significantly improves the separation efficiency of the photogenerated electron−hole pairs and thus dramatically increases its photoelectrochemical performance. In addition to the excellent photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical properties, the electron migration ability of the grephene−ZnO quasi-shell−core composite is significantly enhanced due to the graphene coating on ZnO surface; therefore, this material has great potential for application as a substrate material to accept electrons in dye solar cell and in narrow bandgap semiconductor quantum dot sensitized solar cells.

Polyaniline/silver/silver phosphate (PANI/Ag/Ag3PO4) composite was prepared by in situ depositing silver phosphate (Ag3PO4) nanoparticles on the surface of polyaniline (PANI). The best photocatalytic Rhodamine B degradation performance is obtained by the 20 wt % PANI/Ag/Ag3PO4 composite, which is approximately 4 times higher than that of pure Ag3PO4. Meanwhile, the photocatalytic stability of Ag3PO4 is significantly improved by introducing PANI into the PANI/Ag/Ag3PO4 composite. The dramatic promotion of the photocatalytic degradation performance and the photocatalytic stability can be attributed to the formation of a heterojunction electric field between PANI and Ag3PO4, which is approximately 90 mV and points from Ag3PO4 to PANI. The existence of this electric field can dramatically enhance the separation efficiency of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs, accelerate the transfer of photogenerated holes from Ag3PO4 to PANI and therefore inhibit the self-oxidation of Ag3PO4.