Researchers from Sharif University of technology have produced new graphene-based materials (CeO2TiO2) nanoparticles that can absorb pollutants in water. The new CeO2TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared in room temperature ionic liquid on graphene nanosheets. The researchers managed to move the energy gap of TiO2 towards longer wavelengths through the synthesis of carbon-based TiO2 / CeO2 nanocomposite. They also managed to increase the photocatalytic activity of TiO2.
Those particles managed to degrade water pollutants because of the the unique structure of graphene, which increases adsorption on the catalyst surface and decreases the re-composition of ion carriers.
Last month we reported that Researchers from MIT and the Oak Ridge national Laboratory (ORNL) developed a promising new graphene-based membrane that can be useful to filter microscopic contaminants from water or for drug delivery.