Enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution by combining water soluble graphene with cobalt salts

Effect of graphene oxide flakes size and number of layers on photocatalytic hydrogen production

The present study explored the correlation between the photocatalytic activity toward hydrogen production of the graphene-based materials and graphene oxide (GO) morphology. In this work we applied the technique based on the combination of time-dependent sonication and iterative centrifugation cascades, which were designed to achieve nanosheets size and the number of layers selection. First such obtained GO dispersions were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical spectroscopy. Those combined measurements showed that the intensity of the π-π peak at 230 nm seems to be very sensitive to the number of layers of nanosheets. Next, GO dispersions were used to establish influence of the size and the number of layers of GO flakes on the photocatalytic hydrogen production in the photocatalytic system, containing eosin Y as a sensitizer, triethanolamine as a sacrificial electron donor, and CoSO₄ as precatalyst. The H₂ production efficiency varied by a factor of 3.7 for GO dispersions sonicated for various amount of time. Interestingly it was found that too long ultrasound treatment had negative impact on the GO enhancement of hydrogen production which was related to the fragmentation of GO flakes. The photocatalytic system produced the highest amount of H₂ when graphene oxide occurs as monolayers and efficiency becomes lower with the decrease of GO sheets size. Our results demonstrate the importance of optimizing the size and the number of layers of the GO flakes prior to preparation of GO-based materials.

Design, synthesis, and catalytic performance of modified graphene oxide based on a cobalt complex as a heterogenous catalyst for the preparation of aminonaphthoquinone derivatives

We are reporting a functionalized graphene oxide catalyst developed by modifying graphene oxide surface using the covalent attachment of an amino-functionalized SiO₂ sphere/cobalt complex. Silica network has special characteristics including mechanical strength, high thermal and chemical stability with good dispersion in solvents. The silica/graphene oxide mixture provides improved properties and extends the scope of application. Graphene oxide was functionalized by spherical silica with the help of hybrid silane-containing nitrogen to coordinate with Co(ii) for increasing the catalytic activity. The catalyst was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, and Thermal Gravimetric (TGA) analyses. The catalyst showed high catalytic activity for multi-component reactions in the synthesis of aminonaphthoquinones in ethanol solvent. The catalyst's ability to improve the yield (96–98%), reduce the reaction time (5–8 min), and recycling ability are important benefits for the catalyst.

GO@f-SiO₂@Co is a heterogenous catalyst composed of spherical silica particles grafted on the surface of graphene oxide with ethylenediamine ligands and coordination with Co(ii). We assessed the activity of the catalyst for the synthesis of aminonaphthoquinones.

Modification of eosin Y and cobalt molecular catalyst system with reduced graphene oxide for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production

Reduced graphene oxide enhances photocatalytic hydrogen production in the system composed of Eosin Y and molecular catalyst Co(bpy)₃²⁺.

Novel TiO2/graphene oxide functionalized with a cobalt complex for significant degradation of NOx and CO

A TiO₂/FGO composite manifests high photocatalytic properties for NO_x and CO removal as high as three times more than that of bare TiO₂.