Simple approach for detection and estimation of photoactivity of silver particles on graphene oxide in aqueous-organic dispersion

TL;DR

This study presents a simple method to detect and estimate the photoactivity of silver particles on graphene oxide in aqueous-organic dispersions by observing sediment flotation under visible light, indicating potential for assessing photoactive properties.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to evaluate photoactivity of graphene oxide with deposited silver particles based on sediment flotation under light exposure.

Findings

Sediment flotation occurs only in dispersions with Ag-particles under visible light.

Flotation is likely caused by bubble formation induced by light.

The method can potentially quantify photoactivity of graphene-based materials.

Abstract

In the aqueous-organic (containing dimethylformamide) dispersion of graphene oxide flakes with deposited thereon Ag-particles, under the action of light in visible range, apparently for the first time, the effect of sediment flotation was observed with subsequent stabilization of the dispersion, which does not occur in the absence of Ag-particles. The main reason for such a laser light induced movement of sediment GO flakes may be explained with the appearance of small bubbles. The further development of this approach seem to be able to estimate photo activity of graphene flakes with different activation particles.