A maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) incorporated activated carbon photocatalytic nanocomposite fabricated via Co-precipitation utilized against degradation of methyl orange

Abstract

The γ−Fe2O3/ACP has been synthesized in different ratios by facile co-precipitation method to degrade the methyl orange dye. In order to check the stability and potential of photo activated catalyst, UV, PL, SEM, XRD, EDX, FTIR and Zeta Potential are discussed here. The bandgap has been reduced from 2.06 eV to 1.86eV. Here, 1:3 γ−Fe2O3/ACP sample showed maximum reduced bandgap of 1.86 eV. The PL spectroscopy showed that 1:3 sample has less intensity, which in turn have 94 % photo degradation of methyl orange dye in 180min. The 1:3 sample showed 87 % degradation of methyl blue dye at 125mins light irradiation and proved as an optimal concentration of ACP in maghemite at pH of 11. The inclusion of carbon into maghemite enhances the overall properties by reducing the charge recombination rate. No impurity has been found in the final synthesized samples confirmed through EDX. The XRD and SEM revealed that size of crystallites and particle size increases, which confirms that bandgap is reduced. While trapping techniques and recycling techniques has been employed on the optimal concentration sample to check its stability towards degradation of methyl orange (MO) dye. The photo catalysis through such nanocomposite is not reported before. The 1:3 sample showed promising potential towards pollutants degradation in waste water treatment.