Fabrication of efficient visible light activated Cu-P25-graphene ternary composite for photocatalytic degradation of methyl blue

This enhanced photocatalytic activity of multi-doped P25 arises due to the synergistic effect of dopants contribution to improve visible light absorption and increase of the lifetime of photo-generated charge carriers. Plausible mechanism for the photocatalytic degradation of MB on CPG nanocomposite is illustrated in the figure above. Graphene incooperated with TiO2 promotes the formation of TiC or TiOC bonds that introduced an additional energy level above the valence band of TiO2. Furthermore, copper and graphene serve as an inhibitor of recombination by trapping electrons to promote charge separation. Simultaneously, doping Cu2+ ions into TiO2 could also induce more oxygen vacancies, which can produce more hydroxyl groups. Finally, the enhanced adsorptivity of π-π interaction between MB and the composite catalyst was as well significant for photocatalytic activity.