Simulated sunlight photodegradation of aqueous atrazine and rhodamine B catalyzed by the ordered mesoporous graphene–titania/silica composite material

Ordered mesoporous graphene–titania/silica composite material was prepared using a direct sol–gel co-condensation technique, and combined with hydrothermal treatment, in the presence of a triblock copolymer non-ionic surfactant P123 (EO20PO70EO20, EO = OCH2CH2, PO = OCH(CH3)CH2). The composite exhibited a two-dimensional (2D) hexagonal p6mm symmetry and anatase-phase structure with a large BET (Brunauer–Emmet–Teller) surface area and uniform pore size. The photocatalytic activity of the graphene–titania/silica composite was evaluated through the degradation of the aqueous organic pollutant atrazine and rhodamine B under solar-simulating Xe lamp irradiation. Enhanced photocatalytic activity compared with pure titania was obtained for the graphene–titania/silica sample.

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► Ordered mesoporous Graphene–TiO2/SiO2 was prepared by surfactant-templating strategy.
► The morphology, porosity, and composition of the composite were well characterized.
► The photocatalytic activity was evaluated through the degradation of atrazine and RB.
► Enhanced photocatalytic activity compare with TiO2 was obtained for the composite.