Graphene-supported CoPc/TiO₂ synthesized by sol-gel–hydrothermal method with enhanced photocatalytic activity for degradation of the typical gas of landfill exhaust

This work was focused on the enhanced photocatalytic activity of cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc)/TiO₂under visible light irradiation supported on reduced graphene oxide (RGO). A series of RGO/CoPc/TiO₂nanocomposites were synthesized via sol-gel-hydrothermal method. The photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, BET surface area, Scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectra, Fourier transform infrared spectra, UV-Vis spectra and Photoluminescence spectra. The results demonstrated that the TiO₂existed as anatase phase both of CoPc/TiO₂and RGO/CoPc/TiO₂composites, and the absorption range in visible light of RGO/CoPc/TiO₂composites were broadened further. The photodegradation results of diethyl sulfide, the typical gas of landfill exhaust, under visible light revealed that RGO/CoPc/TiO₂nanocomposites exhibited much higher photocatalytic activity than CoPc/TiO₂and pure TiO₂, indicating the ideal amount of RGO was 7.5 wt.%, the optimal amount of 7.5% RGO/CoPc/TiO₂composite on each plat was 0.3g and the degradation efficiency of diethyl sulfide was about 90%.