An outstanding photocatalytic performance of CNTs based nanocomposite of ternary metal oxides towards cationic and anionic dyes and pharmaceutical drug

Abstract

Currently, hetero-metallic oxides and their nanocomposites with 1D materials have a tremendous role in photocatalytic applications, mainly for the removal of organic effluents, due to their higher potential of electron-hole pair migration and separation than pure metal oxide NPs. The present work reports the fabrication of ternary metal oxides nanostructure (WO3·Ag2O·CuO) and its nanocomposite with carbon nanotubes (WO3·Ag2O·CuO/CNTs) using a facile approach i.e. ultra-sonication. The photocatalytic removal efficacy of fabricated nanocomposite i.e. WO3.Ag2O.CuO/CNTs along its counterpart (WO3·Ag2O·CuO) was evaluated using a model cationic dye (Methylene blue, MB), an anionic dye (Congo red, CR), and an analgesic drug (Paracetamol). The catalytic experiment was performed under natural sunlight upon light irradiation of about 90 min and using 30 mg of photocatalyst for all chosen effluents. The obtained results deduced that WO3·Ag2O·CuO/CNTs nanocomposite showed catalytic efficiency of about 97 % for MB, 87 % for CR, and 93 % for Paracetamol while it was about 80 % for MB, 74 % for CR, and 79 % for drug using WO3·Ag2O·CuO as photocatalyst. The rate constant values of nanocomposite for the removal of MB, CR, and Paracetamol are 0.037 min−1, 0.023 min−1, and 0.027 min−1 respectively. The remarkable degradation performance of WO3·Ag2O·CuO/CNTs nanocomposite as compared to ternary metal oxide (WO3·Ag2O·CuO) was due to its high charge separation, high surface area, and availability of large number of active sites for the adsorption of pollutant molecules. Hence, WO3·Ag2O·CuO/CNTs nanocomposite could be a competent photocatalyst for the removal of variety of industrial effluents i.e. organic dyes and pharmaceutical drugs etc.