Graphene Family Nanomaterials (GFN)-TiO(2) for the Photocatalytic Removal of Water and Air Pollutants: Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications

Given the industrial revolutions and resource scarcity, the development of green technologies which aims to conserve resources and reduce the negative impacts of technology on the environment has become a critical issue of concern. One example is heterogeneous photocatalytic degradation. Titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) has been intensively researched given its low toxicity and photocatalytic effects under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation. The advantages conferred by the physical and electrochemical properties of graphene family nanomaterials (GFN) have contributed to the combination of GFN and TiO(2) as well as the current variety of GFN-TiO(2) catalysts that have exhibited improved characteristics such as greater electron transfer and narrower bandgaps for more potential applications, including those under visible light irradiation. In this review, points of view on the intrinsic properties of TiO(2), GFNs (pristine graphene, graphene oxide (GO), reduced GO, and graphene quantum dots (GQDs)), and GFN-TiO(2) are presented. This review also explains practical synthesis techniques along with perspective characteristics of these TiO(2)- and/or graphene-based materials. The enhancement of the photocatalytic activity by using GFN-TiO(2) and its improved photocatalytic reactions for the treatment of organic, inorganic, and biological pollutants in water and air phases are reported. It is expected that this review can provide insights into the key to optimizing the photocatalytic activity of GFN-TiO(2) and possible directions for future development in these fields.