Efficient squaraine dye photosensitized TiO2/rGO catalyst with enhanced catalytic activity for degradation of Methylene Blue

Synergistic effect of coupling a squaraine dye (SQ) as a photosensitizer with a composite catalyst containing titania and reduced graphene oxide (TiO2/rGO) has been investigated. A three-component TiO2/rGO/SQ catalyst was synthesized and its ability to improve Methylene Blue discoloration in aqueous solution under visible light irradiation has been tested. XRD, SEM, TEM, and VIS spectroscopy were employed for sample characterization. A squaraine dye excited by visible light is capable of transferring electrons to TiO2/rGO material, which contributes to increasing the apparent discoloration rate constant up to 0.028 mol/l.s., which is 18 times higher than that of bare titania.