Influence of the graphene oxide precursor in laser-synthetized hybrid photocatalysts for the H2 production by glycerol photoreforming

• Laser synthesis of nitrogen-doped reduced graphene decorated with TiO 2 -FeO x NPs • The initial structure of GO determines the functional properties of photocatalysts • Hybrid photocatalysts with different glycerol photoreforming activity The present study reports the versatile synthesis of photocatalysts composed of nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (NrGO) flakes coated with TiO 2 -FeO x nanostructures using ultraviolet (UV) pulsed laser irradiation in a liquid environment. Different commercial graphene oxide (GO) sources were used, revealing a significant influence on the structural, compositional, and functional properties of the final photocatalysts. The H 2 production via water-splitting reaction using glycerol as sacrificial agent (photoreforming), ranged from 0.06 to 2.1 μmol H 2 /g in 3.5 h depending on the GO precursor used. The best photocatalysts were those that showed a reduction in the TiO 2 material with a Ti(IV)/Ti(III) atomic ratio about 2.0-2.4, as well as a reduction and N-doping of GO, with 20-23 at. % of C, and 4-6 at. % of N. The light-scattering nature of the photocatalysts also had a significant effect on the H 2 production yield.