Enhanced photocatalytic properties of graphene modified few-layered WSe₂ nanosheets

Highlights: • High-quality WSe₂/RGO composite has been synthesized through a facile one-pot solvothermal reaction. • WSe₂/RGO composite demonstrates significant enhancement in photocatalytic performance in visible region. • WSe₂/RGO composite is a promising catalyst for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants by solar energy. • Excellent charge separation and electronic transport properties are responsible for the enhancement in photocatalytic performance. - Abstract: Reduced graphene oxide (RGO) modified few-layered WSe₂ nanosheets have been synthesized through a facile one-pot solvothermal reaction. Compared with bare WSe₂ nanosheets with relatively poor photocatalytic activity, WSe₂/RGO composite demonstrates significant enhancement in photocatalytic degradation of organic dye RhB under visible light irradiation. The k value of WSe₂/RGO is ∼1.9 times larger than that of bare WSe₂ nanosheets, which is attributed to the excellent charge separation feature and electronic transport ability of graphene nanosheets, leading to highly reduced electron-hole pair recombination of graphene on WSe₂ nanosheets thus strongly enhancing the photocatalytic performance. The WSe₂/RGO composite is a promising catalyst for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants by solar energy.