Magnetic moment centers in titanium dioxide photocatalysts loaded on reduced graphene oxide flakes

A whole series of titania nanocomposites modified with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was prepared using solvothermal method followed by calcination. Modification of titania with rGO has been found to lead to better photocatalytic properties. The highest photocatalytic performance was obtained at calcination temperature of 600°C. Electron paramagnetic resonance/ferromagnetic resonance measurements showed oxygen defects and ferromagnetic ordering systems. The linewidth of resonance line of oxygen defects decreased linearly with calcination temperature increasing up to 600°C and an accompanying growth of mean crystallite size of anatase phase. The integrated resonance line intensity of oxygen defects depended on the calcination temperature and caused a very large increase in the intensity of resonance lines originating from oxygen defects, because inert atmosphere of calcination was enhanced by graphene presence. The occurrence of magnetic ordering system significantly influenced the performance of photocatalytic processes by changing the amount of oxygen defects.