*Article* **Luminescence, Paramagnetic, and Electrochemical Properties of Copper Oxides-Decorated TiO2/Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites**

**Daniela Bala <sup>1</sup> , Iulia Matei 2 , Gabriela Ionita 2 , Dragos-Viorel Cosma 3 , Marcela-Corina Rosu 3 , Maria Stanca <sup>4</sup> , Carmen Gaidau 4 , Maria Baleanu 5 , Marian Virgolici <sup>5</sup> and Ioana Stanculescu 1,5, \***


**Abstract:** The properties of newly synthesized Cu2O/CuO-decorated TiO2/graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposites (NC) were analyzed aiming to obtain insight into their photocatalytic behavior and their various applications, including water remediation, self-cleaning surfaces, antibacterial materials, and electrochemical sensors. The physico-chemical methods of research were photoluminescence (PL), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry (CV), and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The solid samples evidenced an EPR signal that can be attributed to the oxygen-vacancy defects and copper ions in correlation with PL results. Free radicals generated before and after UV-Vis irradiation of powders and aqueous dispersions of Cu2O/CuO-decorated TiO2/GO nanocomposites were studied by EPR spectroscopy using two spin traps, DMPO (5,5-dimethyl-1 pyrroline-N-oxide) and CPH (1-hydroxy-3-carboxy-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidine), to highlight the formation of hydroxyl and superoxide reactive oxygen species, respectively. The electrochemical characterization of the NC modified carbon-paste electrodes (CPE) was carried out by CV and DPV. As such, modified carbon-paste electrodes were prepared by mixing carbon paste with copper oxidesdecorated TiO2/GO nanocomposites. We have shown that GO reduces the recombination process in TiO<sup>2</sup> by immediate electron transfer from excited TiO<sup>2</sup> to GO sheets. The results suggest that differences in the PL, respectively, EPR data and electrochemical behavior, are due to the different copper oxides and GO content, presenting new perspectives of materials functionalization.

**Keywords:** TiO<sup>2</sup> nanocomposites; EPR; photoluminescence; electrochemistry

#### **1. Introduction**

Titania (TiO2)-based materials have attracted great scientific interest due to their physico-chemical properties and numerous applications. By UV photoexcitation, these materials are able to produce electron–hole pairs that can determine a series of consecutive reactions, most often involving the formation of radical reactive species [1].

TiO<sup>2</sup> nanoparticles have shown good optical, electrical, and photocatalytic properties [2]. TiO<sup>2</sup> is a substance with applications in various fields such as paints and plastics, water remediation, paper, and sensors [3–5]. The modification of TiO<sup>2</sup> using metals, non-metals, carbon-based materials may lead to an improvement of its photocatalytic as well as photoelectrochemical activity. TiO<sup>2</sup> absorbs only ultraviolet light due to its large bandgap (3.0–3.2 eV). The optical absorption performance in the visible region could be

**Citation:** Bala, D.; Matei, I.; Ionita, G.; Cosma, D.-V.; Rosu, M.-C.; Stanca, M.; Gaidau, C.; Baleanu, M.; Virgolici, M.; Stanculescu, I. Luminescence, Paramagnetic, and Electrochemical Properties of Copper Oxides-Decorated TiO2/Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites. *Int. J. Mol. Sci.* **2022**, *23*, 14703. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/ijms232314703

Academic Editor: Ana María Díez-Pascual

Received: 27 September 2022 Accepted: 23 November 2022 Published: 25 November 2022

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**Copyright:** © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/).

enhanced by adding copper oxides and graphene oxide (GO) to TiO<sup>2</sup> nanoparticles [6,7]. Various methods of obtaining TiO<sup>2</sup> and GO based nanocomposites and their optical and photocatalytic properties extensive characterization are reported [8–12].

The electrochemical response of TiO2-modified electrodes can be improved by the high conductivity of TiO2. Such electrodes were used for electrochemical measurements of guanine, adenine, and dopamine [13,14]. The TiO<sup>2</sup> doped in the carbon paste electrode (CPE) sensor was developed to detect methyldopa in pharmaceutical samples since it presented excellent electrochemical behavior, correlated to better electrode applicability. This electrode may promote analyte electro-oxidation, increasing method sensibility [15]. Carbon-paste electrodes modified with Cu2O/CuO-decorated TiO2/graphene oxide nanocomposites may be a valuable and cheap alternative to determine compounds such as neurotransmitters in drug formulae.

The EPR measurements on solid TiO<sup>2</sup> samples and on water suspensions of TiO<sup>2</sup> samples evidenced the presence of an EPR signal due to the oxygen defects and/or to the presence of cooper, as well as the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in suspensions. The generation of ROS (HO• , O<sup>2</sup> •– , singlet oxygen, etc.) in water titania suspensions recommends these systems as alternative oxidizing agents that can be used in the annihilation of water pollutants or can find antibacterial applications. In other fields such as cosmetics, titania-based materials should be carefully used in order to control their ROS activity. In this context, the importance of this study consists in highlighting the intimate relation between the composition, structure, and activity of Cu2O/CuO-decorated TiO2/graphene oxide nanocomposites by using physico-chemical methods. The significance of the work is high because the named nanocomposites may be used as advanced materials for various applications: environmental, medical textiles, self-cleaning surfaces, and electrochemical sensors.

#### **2. Results and Discussion**

#### *2.1. Photoluminescence (PL) Data*

As shown in Figure 1, the pure TiO<sup>2</sup> nanoparticles present clear PL emission bands: at 412 nm, corresponding to the oxygen vacancy with two trapped electrons (center F) [16]; at 426 nm, attributed to the recombination of self-trapped excitons (STE) or free excitons [17,18]; at 451 nm, 468 nm, and 484 nm, assigned to electrons' trapping in shallow traps resulting from oxygen vacancies of TiO<sup>2</sup> [18]; and at 493 nm, corresponding to emissions from the TiO<sup>2</sup> surface states [18].

As a result of TiO<sup>2</sup> decoration with Cu2O and CuO species (identified by XPS in the previous study [9]), a lower PL intensity of TC1, TC2, and TC3 was observed, indicating an efficient charge–carrier separation. This finding is in good agreement with the data reported by M. Janczarek and E. Kowalska in their comprehensive review that presents the Cu2O and CuO as active species in TiO<sup>2</sup> photocatalytic system being efficient electron trappers to prevent the recombination of the photogenerated electron–hole pairs [19]. This trend is more pronounced after graphene oxide addition, confirming that GO reduces the recombination process in TiO<sup>2</sup> by immediate electron transfer from excited TiO<sup>2</sup> to GO sheets [20,21].

#### *2.2. EPR Spectroscopy Data*

#### 2.2.1. EPR Spectra of Solid Samples

The EPR spectra of the solid TiO<sup>2</sup> samples are presented in Figure 2. The g factors, calculated from the values of the microwave frequency (ν) and magnetic field (B) as shown in ref. [22], are given in Table 1. As can be observed from Figure 2, the EPR spectra of the copper oxides-decorated TiO2/graphene oxide samples present a broad line corresponding to copper (II) centers, with g factors in the range 2.1464–2.1516.

**Figure 1.** PL spectra of prepared nanocomposites compared to those of TiO<sup>2</sup> nanoparticles.


**Table 1.** The g factors of the solid samples investigated.

In the case of Cu2O/CuO-decorated TiO2/graphene oxide, it can be noticed that the line attributed to copper (II) becomes asymmetric, and this is due in fact to the contribution of the EPR line of the free electron due to defects present in the carbon nanomaterial and to copper (II) centers. The g values attributed to these signals are also included in Table 1 and range from 2.0810 to 2.0916.

#### 2.2.2. Spin-Trapping Measurements

The spin-trapping method was employed in order to investigate whether the TC3 and TC3-GO samples generate ROS. Since HO• and O<sup>2</sup> •– are the radical species most commonly reported in TiO<sup>2</sup> systems [11,12,23,24], two spin traps were used: 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO), sensitive to the HO• radical, and 1-hydroxy-3-carboxy-2,2,5,5 tetramethylpyrrolidine (CPH), having high affinity for the O<sup>2</sup> •– radical.

**0.0**

**0.2**

**0.4**

**Normalized PL**

**412** 

**426** 

**451** 

**468 484 493** 

**0.6**

**0.8**

**1.0**

**400 450 500 550 600 650**

**Wavelength (nm)**

 **TiO2 TC1 TC2 TC3 TC1/GO TC2/GO TC3/GO**

ν

(**c**)

**Figure 2.** Solid state EPR spectra of the TC1/TC1-GO (**a**), TC2/TC2-GO (**b**), and TC3/TC3-GO pairs (**c**).

**ν**

The EPR spectra of the TiO<sup>2</sup> aqueous samples in the presence of spin traps are shown in Figure 3. One may observe the characteristic 1:1:1 triplet signal of the stable 3-carboxycarproxyl nitroxide formed by oxidation of CPH by ROS [25] (Figure 3a) and the 1:2:2:1 quartet signal characteristic to the •DMPO-OH spin adduct [26] (Figure 3b). The hyperfine coupling constant of the stable nitroxide was determined from the experimental spectrum as a<sup>N</sup> = 16.18 G, typical for a nitroxide. The hyperfine coupling constants of the •DMPO-OH spin adduct, obtained by spectral simulation, are a<sup>N</sup> = 15.00 G and aH <sup>β</sup> = 14.56 G, in accordance to the data reported in ref. [27]. Signal intensities are slightly lower for the sample containing graphene oxide. The weak signal recorded for the •DMPO-OH spin adduct may indicate a fast consumption of the HO• radical in these systems. β

**Figure 3.** The EPR spectra of the TC3 and TC3-GO samples in the presence of (**a**) CPH and (**b**) DMPO.

#### *2.3. Electrochemical Characterization*

#### 2.3.1. Cyclic Voltammetry Study

The results show that the anodic peaks increase when the sweep rate is increased and there is a move to positive potentials. Additionally, by increasing the sweep rate, the peak shape does not change, which leads to the conclusion that the modified electrode is sensitive regarding the electrochemical investigation of the ferri/ferro process. In Figure 4a, cyclic voltammograms for TC2 are presented.

− **Figure 4.** (**a**) Cyclic voltammograms for 1.0 mM K<sup>3</sup> [Fe(CN)<sup>6</sup> ] in 0.1 M KCl solution on TC2 modified carbon paste electrode, v = 50–150 mV s−<sup>1</sup> ) and (**b**) I vs. v<sup>1</sup> 2 plot.

An analysis of the voltammetric peak height as a function of the square-root of the scan rate reveals a highly linear response, with good correlation factors, as observed in Figure 4b. This response indicates a diffusion-controlled electrochemical process. −

The same experiments were performed for all modified electrodes. A comparison of CV measurements at 100 mV/s for all electrodes is presented in Figure 5.

**Figure 5.** Overlay of the cyclic voltammograms for selected TC2 modified electrodes for the redox process of 1.0 mM K<sup>3</sup> [Fe(CN)<sup>6</sup> ] in 0.1 M KCl solution (scan rate was 100 mV s−<sup>1</sup> ).

Electrochemical CV data for bare and modified carbon-paste electrodes are presented in Table 2.

**Table 2.** Electrochemical data from CV measurements at 100 mV/s; I<sup>a</sup> and I<sup>c</sup> represent the anodic and cathodic peak currents, and Ea and Ec represent the anodic and cathodic peak potentials.


Both anodic and cathodic peak potentials are shifted for TiO<sup>2</sup> and TC2 when compared with the potential of bare carbon paste electrode. An increase in the peak currents and a decrease in the separation between the peak potentials (∆Ep) at 100 mV·<sup>s</sup> <sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> were observed for these two modified electrodes in comparison to the bare CPE, indicating that the electron transfer reaction was kinetically and thermodynamically favored at the copper oxidesdecorated TiO2-modified electrode surface. Enhanced electron transfer capacity was also found by CV by Mirza-Aghayan et al. for the CuO/rGO/TiO2 system [12]. In the case of the electrode modified with copper oxide-decorated TiO2/graphene oxide, peak currents and potentials decreased. By increasing the scan rate, the intensity of the peak increases not only in the anodic direction but also in the cathodic side. The parameter of most

significant importance is represented by the position of the voltammetric peak rather than the magnitude of the wave. In the case of the metal-doped graphene modified electrodes, the larger peak current is likely due to a slightly larger surface area at the electrode.

Large band gap narrowing of Cu2O/CuO-decorated TiO2/graphene oxide nanocomposites: TC1, 2.90 eV, TC2, 2.94 eV, TC3, 2.86 eV, TC1-GO, 2.75 eV, TC2-GO, 2.56 eV, TC3-GO, and 2.76 eV as compared to pure TiO2, 3.2 eV reported previously [9] may explain their enhanced electron transfer capacity.

#### 2.3.2. Differential Pulse Voltammetry Results

To get a better understanding of the redox behavior at the modified electrodes, DPV measurements were performed. Differential pulse voltammetry is a more sensitive technique than cyclic voltammetry. The DPV traces are presented in Figure 6.

**Figure 6.** Differential pulse voltammograms for TC2 modified electrodes for the redox process of 1.0 mM K<sup>3</sup> [Fe(CN)<sup>6</sup> ] in 0.1 M KCl solution (with step potential 10 mV and modulation amplitude 25 mV): (**a**) anodic and (**b**) cathodic waves.

−

Anodic peak potentials shifted positively for all carbon paste bare and modified electrodes when compared with glassy carbon (0.175 V). The best response was obtained for the TC2-GO electrode, as stated by the highest peak current values (increased by 2.5 to 5.5). For the reduction process, the peak potential and peak current at TC2-GO (0.031 V and <sup>−</sup>1.41 <sup>×</sup> <sup>10</sup>−<sup>6</sup> A) were almost the same as those at glassy carbon (0.035 V and <sup>−</sup>1.46 <sup>×</sup> <sup>10</sup>−<sup>6</sup> A). For all other electrodes, the peak potentials shifted cathodically, and the peak currents were 4–5 times smaller. The electrodes investigated may be a useful and cheap alternative for the determination of redox active compounds contained in drug formulae.

Reported scientific data showed that the electrochemical response of graphene modified electrodes can be improved by increasing the amount of graphene in the electrode [28].

#### **3. Materials and Methods**

#### *3.1. Nanomaterials Preparation*

Cu2O/CuO-decorated TiO2/graphene oxide nanocomposites were prepared by the liquid impregnation method as previously described [29]. Briefly, TiO<sup>2</sup> powder (P25 Evonik) was dispersed in the appropriate solutions of copper (II) nitrate trihydrate under magnetic stirring. Subsequently, the dispersing medium was evaporated, and the resulting powders were calcinated in argon atmosphere at 450 ◦C, then in argon/hydrogen (10% H2) at 280 ◦C. For high homogeneity, all three powders were dispersed in double-distilled water, frozen, and freeze dried. The resulting powders were denoted TC1, TC2, and TC3 according to the copper content 1%, 2%, and 3%, respectively. The TC(1,2,3)-graphene oxide nanocomposites were also prepared using the freeze-drying procedure by mixing TC1, TC2, and TC3 powders with graphene oxide (GO) in a weight ratio of 10:1. The final powders were denoted TC1-GO, TC2-GO, and TC3-GO. Graphene oxide was synthesized according to an improved version of Hummer's method that was reported elsewhere [30].

#### *3.2. Photoluminescence and EPR Spectroscopy Characterization*

Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the nanocomposites were recorded using a Jasco FP-6500 spectrofluorimeter equipped with a 150 W Xenon lamp. The excitation wavelength used was 320 nm. The experiments were performed in triplicate.

The EPR spectra of the solid probes were recorded on a JEOL FA100 spectrometer equipped with a cylindrical-type resonator TE011 using the following parameters: frequency modulation 100 kHz, microwave power 0.998 mW, sweep time 1800 s, modulation amplitude 1 G, time constant 1 s, and magnetic field scan range 1500 G. Each solid sample was placed in a glass capillary and introduced in the spectrometer's cavity.

For the spin-trapping measurements, two spin traps, 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) and 1-hydroxy-3-carboxy-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidine (CPH), purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, USA) and ENZO Life Sciences, Inc. (Lausen, Switzerland), respectively, were used. The parameter settings of the EPR spectrometer for spin-trapping experiments were frequency modulation 100 kHz, microwave power 0.998 mW, sweep time 60 s, modulation amplitude 1 G, time constant 0.1 s, and magnetic field scan range 100 G.

Aqueous dispersions containing TiO2-based samples (1 mg/mL), DMPO (25 mM), and hydrogen peroxide (125 mM) were prepared and incubated for 10 min at 37 ◦C in the dark. The samples were vortexed during the last 5 min of incubation and then centrifuged at 15.000 rpm for 1 min. The supernatant was immediately transferred into a capillary tube and exposed for 10 min to UVA radiation (370 nm, mercury arc lamp, 500 W, LOT-Quantum Design, Darmstadt, Germany) directly in the spectrometer's cavity; then, the EPR spectrum was recorded.

A stock solution of CPH (10 mM) was prepared in phosphate buffer of pH 7.4. To this solution, the chelating agent deferoxamine mesylate (100 µM) was added in order to prevent the oxidation of CPH that is catalyzed by traces of transition metal ions [31]. Aqueous dispersions containing TiO<sup>2</sup> (1 mg/mL) and CPH (0.5 mM) were prepared and

treated similarly to the case of the DMPO-containing samples. The experiments were performed in duplicate.

The simulation of the EPR spectra of spin adducts formed by the DMPO and CPH spin traps with the ROS generated by TiO<sup>2</sup> samples was performed using the WinSim program [32,33].

#### *3.3. Preparation of the Carbon Paste Electrodes*

Graphite powder (GP) (<20 µm, synthetic, Sigma-Aldrich), mineral oil (MO) (Sigma-Aldrich), and copper oxides-TiO<sup>2</sup> graphene oxide powders were used for the preparation of the electrodes. A certain amount of graphite powder was placed in a mortar and pestle and was thoroughly hand mixed for 40 min with paraffin oil, until a consistent uniformly wetted paste was obtained. The GP:MO ratio was approximately 3:1 (*w*/*w*). The obtained paste was placed into a plastic syringe of 1.0 mL. The electrical contact was made by forcing a copper wire down into the syringe and into the back of the graphite paste. The surface of the electrodes was obtained by polishing it on a weighing paper and, when it was necessary, a renewed surface was made by pushing a small excess of the paste out of the tube and polishing it again. The bare carbon paste electrode will be denoted by CPE. The modified electrodes were prepared by mixing certain amounts of carbon paste with Cu2O/CuO-decorated TiO<sup>2</sup> graphene oxide nanocomposites (97:3 *w*/*w*) and were denoted by TC1, TC2, TC3, TC1-GO, TC2-GO, and TC3-GO. The obtained materials were pressed at the end of carbon paste from syringes. For comparison, a few electrodes were also prepared as follows: one was left unmodified (CPE), one modified with graphene oxide (denoted by GO), and one modified with TiO<sup>2</sup> powder (denoted TiO2). The surface of all electrodes was smoothed by polishing on a piece of weighing paper. All electrodes were kept in distilled water before and after measurements.

Electrochemical measurements were carried out in duplicate on a potentiostat galvanostat system AutoLabPGStat 12, controlled by a general purpose electrochemical system (GPES) with interface for Windows (version 4.9.007). Three electrodes in a one compartment cell (10 mL) were used in all experiments. A glassy carbon electrode (Metrohm, 3 mm in diameter) and carbon-paste electrodes (unmodified and modified) served as working electrodes. The counter electrode was a Pt wire of large area. All experimental potentials were referred to Ag/AgCl/KClsat as reference electrodes.

#### *3.4. Testing the Modified Carbon Paste Electrodes*

The electrochemical characterization of the modified CPE electrodes was carried out by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The CV experiments were recorded in 0.1 mol L−<sup>1</sup> KCl solution containing 1.0 mmol L−<sup>1</sup> K3[Fe(CN)6] in the potential range of (−1) to (+1.2) V at scan rates of 50 to 150 mV s−<sup>1</sup> . DPV curves were recorded on the same potential domains at step potential (SP) 10 mV and modulation amplitude (MA) 25 mV.

All modified electrodes were tested for the redox process of 1 mM potassium ferrocyanide(III) using 0.1 M KCl as electrolyte, being an one-electron reversible redox system.

$$[\text{Fe(CN)}\_6]^{3-} + \text{e}^- \leftrightarrow [\text{Fe(CN)}\_6]^{4-}$$

A control experiment was first performed utilizing a bare carbon paste electrode. The voltammetric profile of bare CPE and copper oxides-TiO<sup>2</sup> ± graphene oxide-modified electrodes was explored by sweep rate variation from 50 to 150 mV/s.

#### **4. Conclusions**

The enhanced free radical generation and electrochemical response of Cu2O/CuOdecorated TiO2/graphene oxide nanocomposites are associated with modifications of transition metal oxides. Their electron-accepting properties may enhance the oxidation of analyte when anodic scans are performed. The potential application of the demonstrated electrochemical properties of modified electrodes with nanostructured oxides may increase

the efficiency of drug detection in electroanalysis through electro-catalytic effects. Additionally, it was shown for the first time that the obtained modified TiO<sup>2</sup> nanocomposites transfer electrons under UV irradiation and generate hydroxyl and superoxide radicals reactive oxygen species (ROS), as emphasized by EPR spectroscopy. Further applications of these new nanomaterials could be bacterial inactivation; obtaining self-cleaning surfaces; sensors; and various uses in environmental remediation.

**Author Contributions:** Conceptualization I.S. and G.I.; methodology, M.S. and C.G.; validation, D.B. and M.V.; formal analysis, M.B.; investigation, D.-V.C. and M.-C.R.; writing—original draft preparation, M.-C.R., I.M., G.I. and D.B.; writing—review and editing, I.S.; supervision, C.G.; and funding acquisition, M.S. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

**Funding:** This work was supported by grants of the Romanian Ministry of Research and Innovation, UEFISCDI, contract no. 44PCCDI/2018 (**PhysForTeL**), project **no.** PN-III-P1-1.1-PD-2021-0189 (**GAMMA-COLL**), contract **no.** 71/2022; project no. 4N/2019–PN 19 17 01 02/2022 (**CREATIV\_PIEL**) and project no. 10N/2019 (Interdisciplinary applications of gamma irradiation) National Program Nucleus. The APC was funded by all the authors.

**Institutional Review Board Statement:** Not applicable.

**Informed Consent Statement:** Not applicable.

**Data Availability Statement:** Data are available on request from the authors.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

#### **References**

