Reduced graphene oxide-ZnO hybrid composites as photocatalysts: The role of nature of the molecular target in catalytic performance

Spurred by controversial literature findings, we enwrapped reduced graphene oxide (rGO) in ZnO hierarchical microstructures (rGO loadings spanning from 0.01 to 2 wt%) using an situ synthetic procedure. The obtained hybrid composites were carefully characterized, aiming at shining light on the possible role of rGO claimed increased performance as photocatalysts. Several characterization tools exploited unveil effect exerted rGO, including steady state and time resolved photoluminescence, electron microscopies electrochemical techniques, order evaluate physical, optical electrical features involved determining catalytic degradation rhodamine B phenol water. properties native structures found changed upon enwrapping (including absorbance, concentration defects matrix double-layer capacitance), which are all photocatalytic composites. findings discussed present work highlight high complexity field application graphene-derivatives supporters semiconducting metal oxides functionality, has be analyzed through a multi-parametric approach.