Fabrication of graphene-incorporated tin-niobate-doped zinc oxide for highly enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and degradation

Abstract

This study focuses on designing, synthesizing, and characterizing an innovative graphene-based Sn2Nb2O7-ZnO. Ternary Sn2Nb2O7-ZnO with graphene is added to a catalyst, enhancing the efficiency of visible-light photocatalytic hydrogen (H2) evolution and ciprofloxacin (CIP) degradation in an aqueous solution. It also facilitates easier charge transfer and control over electron-hole recombination between light-harvesting processes. Additionally, the UV–vis shows that rGO doping can be used to tune significant visible light absorption in addition to the effective charge transmission channel of Sn2Nb2O7-rGO-ZnO nanorods. Under visible light, Sn2Nb2O7-rGO-ZnO nanorods demonstrate expected photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and CIP degradation of 1240 μmol·h−1·g−1, a 96% increase over pure catalysts. Photocatalytic H2 production over Sn2Nb2O7-rGO-ZnO is assessed using transient photocurrent response, suggesting a possible mechanism. Owing to the type II process ability, more electrons can participate in the H2 evolution reduction and CIP degradation. Furthermore, it has the potential to completely replace the present base metal as an incredibly powerful and long-standing light radiation-based photocatalyst. In this study, we prepared catalysts that are more stable and highly efficient up to a six-cycle test, non-toxic, low-cost catalysts for H2 production and CIP degradation.