Graphene-Based Photocatalysts: Properties and Characterization for Photocatalytic Applications

Graphene, an atomic thick two-dimensional carbon material, has gained significant attention in photocatalysis due to its unique properties and exceptional performance. This chapter serves as a comprehensive overview for researchers and professionals working in the field of photocatalysis. It presents the fundamental aspects of graphene-based photocatalysts, with a focus on their unique properties and on the characterization techniques for photocatalytic activity. Following an introduction to the photocatalysis in environmental applications and of graphene/graphene oxide, the unique properties of graphene-based photocatalysts, encompassing high surface area, remarkable electron mobility, tunable band gap, and chemical stability are presented. The different characterization techniques for the elucidation of graphene-based photocatalysts’ structural, morphological, compositional, and photocatalytic performance are discussed. In conclusion, a future outlook is presented for graphene-based photocatalysts entailing the priority areas of synthesis, properties, and characterization.