Abstract
In this paper, we report the preparation of a new composite (TiO2/SiO2/γ-Fe2O3/rGO) with a high photocatalytic efficiency. The properties of the composite were examined by different analyses, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), photoluminescence (PL), UV-Visible light diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman, vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM), and nitrogen gas physisorption (BET) studies. The photocatalytic efficiency of the proposed composite was evaluated by the degradation of methylene blue under UV and visible light, and the results were compared with titanium dioxide (TiO2), where degradation increased from 30% to 84% and 4% to 66% under UV and visible light, respectively. The significant increase in photocatalytic activity may be explained by the higher adsorption of dye on the surface of the composite and the higher separation and transfer of charge carriers, which in turn promote active sites and photocatalytic efficiency.
Highlights
Over the last decade, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been productively applied in order to decrease a wide variety of recalcitrant and environmentally toxic products.Among AOPs, the photodegradation of contaminants in wastewater has found considerable interest [1].Photocatalysts generate powerful reactive radicals, such as the hydroxyl radical ( OH), which react with the contaminants in wastewater, inducing their degradation [2,3].Titanium dioxide (TiO2 ) is considered one of the most effective photocatalytic materials for environmental remediation due to its physicochemical properties, such as high thermal and chemical stability, excellent electronic properties, low cost, availability and low toxicity
Isari et al used a simple sol-gel method to prepare a ternary nanocomposite of Fe-doped TiO2 that was decorated on reduced graphene oxide (Fe-doped TiO2 /Reduced graphene oxide (rGO)), and the photocatalytic activity of the synthesized sample was investigated by the decontamination of rhodamine B under solar irradiation
The quenched e− /h+ recombination rate and increased specific surface area of the prepared sample could improve the photocatalytic activity of Fe-TiO2 /rGO under solar irradiation [28]
Summary
Over the last decade, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been productively applied in order to decrease a wide variety of recalcitrant and environmentally toxic products. The obtained results demonstrated that the BiVO4 /rGO composite showed higher photocatalytic activity compared to neat BiVO4 , with the photodegradation efficiency remaining stable up to multiple cycles This improvement could be related to the high surface area available to adsorb more molecules of methylene blue (MB) and the effective charge separation of BiVO4 particles through the π electron in the structure of rGO [27]. Isari et al used a simple sol-gel method to prepare a ternary nanocomposite of Fe-doped TiO2 that was decorated on reduced graphene oxide (Fe-doped TiO2 /rGO), and the photocatalytic activity of the synthesized sample was investigated by the decontamination of rhodamine B under solar irradiation. The quenched e− /h+ recombination rate and increased specific surface area of the prepared sample could improve the photocatalytic activity of Fe-TiO2 /rGO under solar irradiation [28].
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