Highly Efficient Photocatalytic Performance of Graphene–ZnO Quasi-Shell–Core Composite Material

In the present paper, the graphene–ZnO composite with quasi-shell–core structure was successfully prepared using a one-step wet chemical method. The photocatalytic Rhodamine B degradation property and the photoelectrochemical performance of the graphene–ZnO quasi-shell–core composite are dependent on the amount of graphene oxide that is added. When the amount of graphene oxide added is 10 mg, the graphene–ZnO quasi-shell–core composite possesses the optimal photocatalytic degradation efficiency and the best photoelectrochemical performance. An efficient interfacial electric field is established on the interface between the graphene and ZnO, which significantly improves the separation efficiency of the photogenerated electron–hole pairs and thus dramatically increases its photoelectrochemical performance. In addition to the excellent photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical properties, the electron migration ability of the grephene–ZnO quasi-shell–core composite is significantly enhanced due to the graphene coating on ZnO surface; therefore, this material has great potential for application as a substrate material to accept electrons in dye solar cell and in narrow bandgap semiconductor quantum dot sensitized solar cells.