Abstract
Tunable proton conductivity (PrN), electron conduction behavior (EnN) and UV light harvesting photocatalytic dye degradation performance (PDD) of reduced graphene oxide-aminoalkane (aminoalkanes = aminomethane (AM), aminoethane (AE) aminopropane (AP) and 2-methylpropylamine (AMP)). The rGO-AMP exhibited high PrN, EnN, and optimized PDD. The PrN of rGO-AMP was approximate to 10(-4) -10(-3) S cm(-1) , which is of almost equal order of that for pristine GO. The EnN was around 1.68 mu A. The PDD measured for methylene blue (MtB), followed the trend as rGO-AMP > rGO-AE > rGO-AM > rGO-AP > rGO. The formation of chemical bonds between aminoalkane and rGO are confirmed from IR spectra. The conversion of sp(3) carbon domains into electron conductive sp(2) centres were confirmed from the Raman shifts. Thermal analysis confirms the optimum amount of water adsorption by rGO-AMP. XPS spectra confirm the doping of pyrrolic N atom in rGO. The maximum flexibility of interlayer distance (InD) in rGO-AMP was identified by PXRD analysis. The InD played vital role for proton conduction and PDD. N doping results in the opening of bandgap and generation of water adsorbing sites. All these facts rolled for dual electron-proton conduction and PDD activities. The composites imply enormous possibility of graphene-based non-metallic hybrid catalysts. (C) 2020 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.