Organic Wastewater Treatment using Two-dimensional Graphene-based Photocatalysts: A Review

Abstract

Photocatalysts have gained enormous attention in water decontamination due to their economic viable and intri-guing properties. Recently, graphene-based semiconductors have become the sparkling star on the horizon of ma-terial science. The coupling of two-dimensional graphene and its derivatives (graphene oxide and reduced gra-phene oxide) with semiconductors could effectively enhance the efficiency in organic wastewater degradation un-der light irradiation. Hence, a collective study on this topic is necessary. Four types of graphene-based semicon-ductors, viz. titania, zinc oxide, cadmium sulfide, and bismuth oxychloride, are explored. Besides, synthesis ap-proaches and properties of these photocatalysts are elucidated too. We hope this review could enable us to ration-ally design and harness the morphology, structure and electronic properties of these advanced materials.