A comprehensive thermodynamic and kinetic study of synthesized rGO-ZrO2 composite as a photocatalyst and its use as fuel additive

Abstract

Spherical shaped rGO-ZrO2 nano composite was synthesized using a wet chemical approach in two steps. The graphene oxide was synthesized by modified Hummer's and offeman method in the first step, followed by the adsorption of zirconium oxide nano particles on the surface of reduced graphene during the solvothermal treatment. The resulted product was subjected to SEM and TEM to analyze the morphology that showed the adsorption of zirconium oxide nano particles on the surface of reduced graphene. The synthesized nano composite was also subjected to XRD analysis for the evaluation of diffraction planes, lattice parameters and lattice structure. Photocatalytic and catalytic thermal reduction of Drimarene red K-4BL was investigated in the presence of rGO-ZrO2 nano catalyst. Kinetics and thermodynamics of the photocatalytic and catalytic thermal degradation is discussed respectively. Effect of different parameters on the efficiency of synthesized nano catalyst was also analyzed. The photocatalytic efficiency of rGO-ZrO2 was compared with GO and ZrO2. The rate of photocatalytic degradation of the dye is found to be higher in the presence of rGO-ZrO2. The synthesized product was also used as an additive using diesel as test fuel to check the combustion and physical properties of pure and modified fuel. Properties of modified fuel also showed good catalytic efficiency of the synthesized product as an additive.