UV light exposure of aqueous graphene oxide suspensions to promote their direct reduction, formation of graphene–metal nanoparticle hybrids and dye degradation

The use of UV light to trigger different processes involving graphene oxide sheets suspended in aqueous medium at room temperature has been investigated. These processes include (1) deoxygenation of the sheets in the absence of photocatalysts, reducing agents and stabilizers, (2) selective nucleation and growth of metal nanoparticles on the sheets to yield graphene-based hybrids and (3) decomposition of the dye molecule rhodamine B in the presence of only graphene oxide. Photoinduced heating of the suspended graphene oxide sheets by intense UV irradiation (∼1 W cm−2 delivered at the surface of the dispersion) was interpreted to generate at high temperature and reactive environment strictly localized at the sheets and their immediate aqueous medium, which in turn brings about the mentioned processes. In addition to providing a simple route toward reduction of graphene oxide dispersions, the present results suggest that intense UV light can be used to promote reactions at ambient conditions with this material that would otherwise require high temperatures, chemical reactants and/or catalysts.