Ultrasonically-assisted surface modified TiO/rGO/CeO heterojunction photocatalysts for conversion of CO to methanol and ethanol.

Converting CO to usable fuel may contribute to lowering of global warming, thus this study developed effective heterojunction photocatalysts for the photoreduction of CO with water into methanol and ethanol fuels. The photocatalysts were prepared from combining surface modified titanium dioxide (TiO) nanoparticles with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and cerium oxide (CeO). The TiO surfaces were firstly modified via the sono-assisted exfoliation, with high intensity ultrasonic waves (ultrasonic horn, 20 kHz, 150 W/cm) in 10 M NaOH for 1 h.