Novel TiO2/graphene oxide functionalized with a cobalt complex for significant degradation of NO_x and CO

摘要

We are reporting a well-designed nanostructured composite, consisting of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and cobalt (Co) imidazole (Im) complex functionalized graphene oxide (FGO). The Co-Im complex was attached on the GO by covalent bonding of Im with the graphene functional groups. The films were characterized by XRD, XPS, TEM, UV-vis, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy in order to subsequently prove the evidence of hybridization of GO with the Co-Im complex. The band gap calculated for the TiO2 thin film was 3.10 eV, 2.96 eV for TiO2/GO and 2.776 eV for TiO2/FGO. Experimental results confirmed high- percentage deterioration of NO_x (51%) and CO (46%). The photodegradation experiments revealed a significant photocatalytic character of TiO2, physical adsorption of GO, and the affinity of cobalt to undergo complex formation with pollutant gases. The TiO2/FGO composite increases air pollutant degradation by nearly three times that of the bare TiO2 thin film.