Synthesis and photocatalytic performance of GO- and rGO-modified TiO2 nanotube-nanoring composites for efficient methylene blue degradation

IF 3.5 4区材料科学 Q3 CHEMISTRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Journal of Nanoparticle Research Pub Date : 2026-10-14 DOI:10.1007/s11051-026-06738-3

Amanda Rodríguez-Álvarez, Susana Silva-Martínez, Javier Arcibar-Orozco, Erik Ramírez-Morales, Iliana E. Medina-Ramírez, Carlos A. Pineda-Arellano

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Optimizing TiO₂ nanotube/nanoring (NT/NR-TiO₂) systems with graphene derivatives is a powerful strategy to enhance solar-driven water treatment, yet their performance under aggressive acidic conditions remains underexplored. This study evaluates the synthesis, interfacial properties, and artificial solar-driven methylene blue (MB) degradation of GO- and rGO-modified NT/NR-TiO₂ architectures. SEM and XRD confirmed well-defined, highly crystalline anatase arrays. The average crystallite size from the anatase (101) reflection was 20.36 nm for pristine NT/NR-TiO₂, decreasing to 17.42 nm and 18.64 nm for GO and rGO modifications, respectively. Photoelectrochemical profiles and Mott-Schottky analysis revealed that the NT/NR-TiO₂-GO composite achieved the highest photocurrent response. This performance was driven by an optimized potential drop, suppressed electron-hole recombination, and strong π-π surface interactions under extreme acidic conditions (pH 1). Consequently, the GO-modified photoanode delivered a superior MB degradation efficiency of 85% within 120 min (k_app = 1.53 × 10^–2 min⁻¹), outperforming both rGO-modified and pristine counterparts. Importantly, this was accompanied by a 78.6% reduction in chemical oxygen demand, demonstrating extensive partial oxidation into lower-molecular-weight fragments. Furthermore, the composite displayed robust operational reusability, retaining 80% efficiency after 5 consecutive cycles (600 min total). These findings confirm its high stability and potential for the direct treatment of acidic industrial effluents without preliminary neutralization steps.

Graphical abstract

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氧化石墨烯和反氧化石墨烯修饰TiO2纳米管-纳米环复合材料的合成及其光催化性能

用石墨烯衍生物优化TiO2纳米管/纳米环（NT/NR-TiO2）系统是增强太阳能驱动水处理的有力策略，但其在强酸性条件下的性能仍有待研究。本研究评估了氧化石墨烯和还原氧化石墨烯修饰的NT/NR-TiO2结构的合成、界面性质和人工太阳能驱动亚甲基蓝（MB）降解。SEM和XRD证实了清晰、高结晶的锐钛矿阵列。原始NT/NR-TiO2在锐钛矿（101）反射下的平均晶粒尺寸为20.36 nm，氧化石墨烯和还原氧化石墨烯改性后的平均晶粒尺寸分别为17.42 nm和18.64 nm。光电化学谱和Mott-Schottky分析表明，NT/NR-TiO2-GO复合材料具有最高的光电流响应。这种性能是由优化的电位下降、抑制的电子-空穴复合以及在极端酸性条件下（pH 1）强π-π表面相互作用驱动的。因此，氧化石墨烯修饰的光阳极在120分钟内具有85%的MB降解效率（kapp = 1.53 × 10-2 min−1），优于氧化石墨烯修饰的光阳极和原始光阳极。重要的是，与此同时，化学需氧量降低了78.6%，显示出广泛的部分氧化成低分子量片段。此外，复合材料显示出强大的操作可重用性，在连续5次循环（总共600分钟）后保持80%的效率。这些发现证实了它的高稳定性和直接处理酸性工业废水的潜力，而无需初步中和步骤。图形抽象

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来源期刊

Journal of Nanoparticle Research 工程技术-材料科学：综合

CiteScore

4.40

自引率

4.00%

发文量

198

审稿时长

3.9 months

期刊介绍： The objective of the Journal of Nanoparticle Research is to disseminate knowledge of the physical, chemical and biological phenomena and processes in structures that have at least one lengthscale ranging from molecular to approximately 100 nm (or submicron in some situations), and exhibit improved and novel properties that are a direct result of their small size. Nanoparticle research is a key component of nanoscience, nanoengineering and nanotechnology. The focus of the Journal is on the specific concepts, properties, phenomena, and processes related to particles, tubes, layers, macromolecules, clusters and other finite structures of the nanoscale size range. Synthesis, assembly, transport, reactivity, and stability of such structures are considered. Development of in-situ and ex-situ instrumentation for characterization of nanoparticles and their interfaces should be based on new principles for probing properties and phenomena not well understood at the nanometer scale. Modeling and simulation may include atom-based quantum mechanics; molecular dynamics; single-particle, multi-body and continuum based models; fractals; other methods suitable for modeling particle synthesis, assembling and interaction processes. Realization and application of systems, structures and devices with novel functions obtained via precursor nanoparticles is emphasized. Approaches may include gas-, liquid-, solid-, and vacuum-based processes, size reduction, chemical- and bio-self assembly. Contributions include utilization of nanoparticle systems for enhancing a phenomenon or process and particle assembling into hierarchical structures, as well as formulation and the administration of drugs. Synergistic approaches originating from different disciplines and technologies, and interaction between the research providers and users in this field, are encouraged.