Superfine and closely-packed TiO2/Bi2O3 lamination on graphene nanoplates with high photocatalytic activity

• Superfine and closely-packed nanoparticles controlled on graphene
• TiO2/Bi2O3 lamination covered on GR assisted with fine control of pH
• Multivariate effect on activity and growth mechanism analysis were given in detail.
• High photocatalytic activity for RhB both in UV light and visible light

Graphene/TiO2–Bi2O3 nanohybrids were synthesized by one-step PAA-assisted hydrothermal method with a low-temperature treatment. Their morphology, structure and photocatalytic property were investigated accordingly. The SEM and TEM results showed that the nanohybrids composed of TiO2 and Bi2O3 nanoparticles with the size of about 10 nm were uniformly covered on the graphene sheets. Furthermore, the resultant samples presented excellent photocatalytic activity for RhB and recycle property, in which 95% RhB was degraded within 10 min and a good activity was maintained in the seven recycling tests, besides the hybrids also possess good activity in visible light. The enhancement of photocatalytic activity is attributed to efficient transfer of the photogenerated electrons from the CB of semiconductor nanoparticles to graphene and the homogeneity of nanoparticles.

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