Enhanced UV-Vis Photodegradation of Nanocomposite Reduced Graphene Oxide/Ferrite Nanofiber Films Prepared by Laser-Assisted Evaporation

Abstract

Nanocomposite films of rGO/MFeO3 (M = Bi, La) nanofibers were grown by matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation of frozen target dispersions containing GO platelets and MFeO3 nanofibers. Electron microscopy investigations confirmed the successful fabrication of MFeO3 nanofibers by electrospinning Part of nanofibers were broken into shorter units, and spherical nanoparticles were formed during laser processing. Numerical simulations were performed in order to estimate the maximum temperature values reached by the nanofibers during laser irradiation. X-ray diffraction analyses revealed the formation of perovskite MFeO3 phase, whereas secondary phases of BiFeO3 could not be completely avoided, due to the high volatility of bismuth. XPS measurements disclosed the presence of metallic bismuth and Fe2+ for BiFeO3, whereas La2(CO3)3 and Fe2+ were observed in case of LaFeO3 nanofibers. High photocatalytic efficiencies for the degradation of methyl orange were achieved for nanocomposite films, both under UV and visible light irradiation conditions. Degradation values of up to 70% after 400 min irradiation were obtained for rGO/LaFeO3 nanocomposite thin layers, with weights below 10 µg, rGO platelets acting as reservoirs for photoelectrons generated at the surface of MFeO3.

Deposition and Growth of Functional Nanomaterials by LDW and MAPLE Techniques

“…Finally, Queraltó et al [4] present another work about MAPLE deposition of hybrid films, also using water-ice as matrix, but through a totally different approach. In this case, the frozen targets were composed of perovskite BiFeO 3 and LaFeO 3 nanofibers (obtained by electrospinning) and graphene oxide (GO) sheets.…”