Fabrication of graphene oxide wrapped Ti/Co₃O₄ nanowire photoanode and its superior photoelectrocatalytic performance

Here, we successfully fabricated graphene oxide (GO) wrapped Ti/Co₃O₄ nanowires (NWs) by electrophoretic deposition based on the good dispersibility of GO in an aqueous solution. Interestingly, GO can adhere to the surface of Co₃O₄ NWs via an ultrathin gossamer-like sheet, and the coverage and wrapping of GO on the surface of Co₃O₄ NWs can be controlled by tuning the electrochemical deposition time and voltage. Our results also demonstrate that GO wrapped Co₃O₄ NWs had superior photoelectrochemical activity for the decolorization of dye (reactive brilliant blue KN-R) in wastewater, mainly because the introduction of GO can tune the oxygen evolution behavior, the transportation of reactant and induced carriers, electrochemical active areas, and the light-harvesting capability of Co₃O₄ NWs. Therefore, we anticipate that GO wrapped Ti/Co₃O₄ NWs could be considered as a promising photoanode for the treatment of organic pollutants in wastewater. (paper)