Tuning the graphene oxide chemistry by excimer formation: The stabilization of electron/hole pair on sp2 surface

•A new material formed by graphene oxide and a perylene diimide derivative was synthesized.•The material stabilizes the generated electron/ hole pair.•The perylene diimide excimers were responsible for harvesting the GO electrons.•The obtained material was efficiently applied in the photodegradation process of methylene blue.•The material removed around 90 % of the methylene blue.