Herein,
we report a novel single-step hydrothermal synthesis of
a photocatalytically stable and magnetically separable g-Fe3O4/RGO nanocomposite in the presence of Averrhoa
carambola leaf extract as a natural surfactant for multipurpose
water purification application. The Averrhoa carambola leaf extract played a major role in the modification of structural,
optical, and electronic properties of the Fe3O4 nanoparticle. At room temperature, the g-Fe3O4/2RGO nanocomposite showed 97% and 76% of Cr(VI) reduction and phenol
degradation, respectively. The higher activity of g-Fe3O4/2RGO was attributed to the in situ loading of RGO,
and the synergism developed between RGO and the super magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticle results in better separation of
photoexcited charge carriers (e–/h+)
which was concluded from photoluminescence and photocurrent measurements.
Further, the g-Fe3O4/2RGO nanocomposite showed
better antimicrobial activity against three bacterial pathogens such
as Staphylococcus aureous (MTCC-737), Bacillus
subtilis (MTCC-736), and Escherichia coli (MTCC-443) compared to GO with respect to a standard antibiotic
(30 μg).
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.