TiO2 Nanocrystals Decorated CVD Graphene Based Hybrid for UV-Light Active Photoanodes

In this work, the manufacturing and characterization of an optically transparent and UV-light photoactive anode, formed of graphene grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) decorated with a close packed multilayer nanostructured layout of colloidal TiO2 nanocrystals (NCs), has been reported. The hybrid material was prepared by a facile solution-based procedure, which relays on incubating the CVD graphene in a solution of 1-pyrene butyric acid (PBA)-surface coated TiO2 NCs. Pyrene undergoes π-π stacking interactions, anchoring the NCs to the graphene platform with retention of the NC geometry and composition. Concomitantly, the NCs immobilize onto graphene preserving the structure of the aromatic platform. Photoelectrochemical investigation shows that the composite material exhibits a photoelectric response 50% higher than that of bare graphene based electrodes.