High surface area ZnAl₂O₄/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites with enhanced photocatalytic performance

Abstract

In this study, the fabrication of ZnAl2O4/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites is reported for the initial time. Two nanocomposites, ZnAl2O4/reduced graphene oxide‐50 and ZnAl2O4/reduced graphene oxide‐100, with different reduced graphene oxide contents (50 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml initial graphene oxide concentration respectively) were synthesized via a hydrothermal route; and characterized with the aid of suitable characterization and analytical techniques. For comparative purposes, two pure ZnAl2O4 samples were fabricated by citrate sol‐gel and urea combustion methods. The photocatalytic activity of the synthesized pure nanospinels and nanocomposites was studied for the degradation of rhodamine B dye under ultraviolet–A light irradiation. Compared to pure ZnAl2O4 nanoparticles, ZnAl2O4/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites exhibited superior photocatalytic activity. The highest efficiency was observed for ZnAl2O4/reduced graphene oxide‐100 composite, where; full degradation of rhodamine B occurred after 45 min. The enhancements of the photocatalytic performance of ZnAl2O4/reduced graphene oxide composites were mainly attributed to unique electronic and surface properties of reduced graphene oxide.

Photocatalytic performance of Fe‐substituted ZnAl2O4 powders under sunlight irradiation on degradation of industrial dyes

“…Boosting the overall performance of a modern type of photocatalyst is the overall goal. 12,13 Not long ago, our group obviously illustrated that the photocatalytic execution of aluminate spinel powders is clearly conditional on their band gap. 14 Employing the disintegration of four kinds of pollutants including rhodamine B (RhB), methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO), and methyl red (MR) under ultraviolet irradiation, the photocatalytic functions of NiAl 20 Still, the added ion value in their studies was restricted to x = 0.5.…”

“…To produce such novel photocatalysts, a range of technical methods have been proposed, including flexible doping, crystal facet regulation, crystal morphology modulation, or heterojunction construction. Boosting the overall performance of a modern type of photocatalyst is the overall goal 12,13 …”

In‐Situ Synthesis of Tetraphenylporphyrin/Tungsten (VI) Oxide/Reduced Graphene Oxide (TPP/WO3/RGO) Nanocomposite for Visible Light Photocatalytic Degradation of Acid Blue 25

“…Photocatalysis has the impetus towards complete degradation of organic pollutants and dyestuff pollution with nanocomposites of carbon materials being popular due to the potential synergistic effects that results in improved efficiency of the nanomaterials for different applications . One of the carbon materials to have caught the attention of scientific research and application is graphene.…”

“…Graphene is an atom thick 2D graphite material and has become the darling of material scientists and engineers since Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov published their work on isolation of graphene in 2004 which won them a Nobel prize in Physics (2010) . Most importantly, graphene has an almost zero band gap, high specific surface area (2630 m 2 /g), high electrical conductivity and high carrier mobility (200 000 cm 2 /V) that improves its ability to arrest (through planar π bond) and convey electrons resulting in high photocatalytic efficiency . This material has shown numerous potential applications in photocatalysis, and several methods are reported for synthesis of graphene.…”

“…Most importantly, graphene has an almost zero band gap, high specific surface area (2630 m 2 /g), high electrical conductivity and high carrier mobility (200 000 cm 2 /V) that improves its ability to arrest (through planar π bond) and convey electrons resulting in high photocatalytic efficiency . This material has shown numerous potential applications in photocatalysis, and several methods are reported for synthesis of graphene. Some previous reported methods often result in impurities on the synthesised graphene oxide with the main one being sulphur which somehow reduces the carrier mobility, the degree of reduction of the graphene oxide and the surface area for enhanced degradation .…”