Highly efficient visible-light-driven plasmonic photocatalysts based on graphene oxide mediated hybridization of graphite and Ag/AgBr

Abstract

Graphite (Gr)-based composite materials have been attracting great interest from the scientific and engineering communities. While tremendous progress has been achieved in this field, it still remains a formidable challenge to hybridize pristine Gr with other components under ambient conditions without breaking the π-conjugated system of Gr. Herein, we report that Gr could be facilely hybridized with visible-light-driven plasmonic photocatalyst Ag/AgBr with the assistance of graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets under ambient conditions. We demonstrate that without the use of GO, Gr could not be well hybridized with Ag/AgBr, while a good hybrid Gr/GO/Ag/AgBr could be produced when GO nanosheets are introduced into the system. Our results show that compared to Ag/AgBr, GO/Ag/AgBr and Gr/Ag/AgBr species, thus-fabricated Gr/GO/Ag/AgBr hybrids could display substantially enhanced catalytic activity towards the photobleaching of methyl orange under visible-light irradiation. It is disclosed that the good hybridization between Gr and Ag/AgBr, which is mediated by GO, and the facilitated separation of photogenerated electrons and holes, which is promoted both by GO and Gr, contribute much to the boosted catalytic performances. Considering the excellent hybridization capability of GO, the exceptional electronic characteristics, versatile multifunctionality and low-cost of Gr, our protocol might be applicable not only to the Ag/AgBr-based plasmonic photocatalysts but also to a wide variety of other functional materials, wherein Gr/GO-based advanced materials of desired and reinforced functions or properties might be inaugurated.