**1. Introduction**

Nanocomposites and nanomaterials have been attracting increasing attention in various fields [1–6]. Nanocomposites can be prepared with a variety of special physical, thermal, and other unique properties. They have better properties than conventional microscale composites and can be synthesized using simple and inexpensive techniques. In addition, as the assemblage

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of various separate components, the designed composite materials would demonstrate greater characteristics and performances. At the same time, nanomaterials and nanocomposites often have unique properties that could enable composite materials with multiple unique properties simultaneously; however, it is often challenging to achieve these properties in large-scale nanocomposites and functionalized nanomaterials. In order to obtain the stated objective composites, it is important to design different models of the interactions in nanocomposites and next controllable properties. Moreover, it is well known that various self-assembly techniques are important to fabricate well-defined hierarchical and organized nanostructures with special properties and controlled capacity [7–10]. For different research systems, such as inorganic–organic hybrids, various nanoparticles, colloidal microspheres, and supramolecular nanostructures, the self-assembly process can demonstrate obvious advantages, especially in preparing special nanostructures. The incorporation of nanocomposites with self-assembly shows new performances for designed composite nanomaterial with different organized style and processing routes.

In addition, as a special sp2 -bonded single layer carbon material, graphene has been attracting more attentions in various application fields, especially as photocatalytic material due to its natural characteristics, such as high chemical stability, large surface area, and excellent adsorption capacity [11]. And some new nanocomposites from graphene materials as photo‐ catalysts have been developed in recent years. For example, the research group of Ullah prepared ternary Pt-graphene/TiO2 nanocomposites by microwave-assisted method and investigated the photocatalytic degradation for dye rhodamine B [12]. Bai and coworkers reported the preparation of new ZnWO4/graphene hybrid materials by in situ reduction of graphene oxide and characterized the degradation capacity of methylene blue as photocata‐ lysts [13]. Sun's group reported the synthesis of ZnFe2O4/ZnO nanocomposites anchored on graphene substrates via an ultrasound-aided method [14]. Xu and coworkers prepared reduced graphene oxide/Bi2WO6 composite materials as photocatalysts, and compared the photocatalytic activities of composites with pure Bi2WO6 [15]. In addition, more research works have been reported to enhance the photocatalytic activity of graphene-based composites as photocatalysts [16–19]. Moreover, in the last several decades, the preparations of gold nanoparticles have been attracting much attention [20–22]. Up to now, various processes [23– 25] and designed capping agents [26–29] have demonstrated the synthesis of functional gold nanoparticles with designed nanostructures and tailored behaviors. It is well known that many factors, such as the particle size, shape, colloid stability, and surface functionalized groups, seem to be critical for the applications fields [30–32]. In addition, because the self-assembled nanostructures are important and closely related to molecular skeletons in designed template compounds, the design and synthetic routes are the key step in the whole process.

In recent research work reported by our group, various research systems about graphene and gold nanocomposites/nanomaterials have been designed and characterized. And the involved analytical methods and self-assembly techniques have been also highlighted. So in the present chapter, we would like to demonstrate our recent research contributions in two parts: (1) preparation and catalytic properties of some functionalized graphene nanocomposites; (2) preparation and catalytic properties of some functionalized gold nanocomposites. These works not only provided important inspirations for developing graphene-hybridized materi‐ als but also opened new possibilities to improve the photocatalytic activity of photocatalyst.

of various separate components, the designed composite materials would demonstrate greater characteristics and performances. At the same time, nanomaterials and nanocomposites often have unique properties that could enable composite materials with multiple unique properties simultaneously; however, it is often challenging to achieve these properties in large-scale nanocomposites and functionalized nanomaterials. In order to obtain the stated objective composites, it is important to design different models of the interactions in nanocomposites and next controllable properties. Moreover, it is well known that various self-assembly techniques are important to fabricate well-defined hierarchical and organized nanostructures with special properties and controlled capacity [7–10]. For different research systems, such as inorganic–organic hybrids, various nanoparticles, colloidal microspheres, and supramolecular nanostructures, the self-assembly process can demonstrate obvious advantages, especially in preparing special nanostructures. The incorporation of nanocomposites with self-assembly shows new performances for designed composite nanomaterial with different organized style

248 Advanced Catalytic Materials - Photocatalysis and Other Current Trends

more attentions in various application fields, especially as photocatalytic material due to its natural characteristics, such as high chemical stability, large surface area, and excellent adsorption capacity [11]. And some new nanocomposites from graphene materials as photo‐ catalysts have been developed in recent years. For example, the research group of Ullah prepared ternary Pt-graphene/TiO2 nanocomposites by microwave-assisted method and investigated the photocatalytic degradation for dye rhodamine B [12]. Bai and coworkers reported the preparation of new ZnWO4/graphene hybrid materials by in situ reduction of graphene oxide and characterized the degradation capacity of methylene blue as photocata‐ lysts [13]. Sun's group reported the synthesis of ZnFe2O4/ZnO nanocomposites anchored on graphene substrates via an ultrasound-aided method [14]. Xu and coworkers prepared reduced graphene oxide/Bi2WO6 composite materials as photocatalysts, and compared the photocatalytic activities of composites with pure Bi2WO6 [15]. In addition, more research works have been reported to enhance the photocatalytic activity of graphene-based composites as photocatalysts [16–19]. Moreover, in the last several decades, the preparations of gold nanoparticles have been attracting much attention [20–22]. Up to now, various processes [23– 25] and designed capping agents [26–29] have demonstrated the synthesis of functional gold nanoparticles with designed nanostructures and tailored behaviors. It is well known that many factors, such as the particle size, shape, colloid stability, and surface functionalized groups, seem to be critical for the applications fields [30–32]. In addition, because the self-assembled nanostructures are important and closely related to molecular skeletons in designed template

compounds, the design and synthetic routes are the key step in the whole process.

In recent research work reported by our group, various research systems about graphene and gold nanocomposites/nanomaterials have been designed and characterized. And the involved analytical methods and self-assembly techniques have been also highlighted. So in the present chapter, we would like to demonstrate our recent research contributions in two parts: (1) preparation and catalytic properties of some functionalized graphene nanocomposites; (2) preparation and catalytic properties of some functionalized gold nanocomposites. These


and processing routes.

In addition, as a special sp2
