Photoreduction of Graphene Oxide and Photochemical Synthesis of Graphene-Metal Nanoparticle Hybrids by Ketyl Radicals

The photoreduction of graphene oxide (GO) using ketyl radicals is demonstrated for the first time. The use of photochemical reduction through ketyl radicals generated by I-2959 or (1-[4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)phenyl]-2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-propan-1-one) is interesting because it affords spatial and temporal control of the reduction process. Graphene-metal nanoparticle hybrids of Ag, Au, and Pd were also photochemically fabricated in a one-pot procedure. Comprehensive spectroscopic and imaging techniques were carried out to fully characterize the materials. The nanoparticle hybrids showed promising action for the catalytic degradation of model environmental pollutants, namely, 4-nitrophenol, Rose Bengal, and Methyl Orange. The process described can be extended to polymer nanocomposites that can be photopatterned and could be potentially extended to fabricating plastic electronic devices.