Nanohybrids cadmium selenide-reduced graphene oxide for improving photo-degradation of methylene blue

Abstract

CdSe-rGO nanohybrids with different weight content of rGO were synthesized using hydrothermal route and characterized through X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Raman, absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies. The XRD shows that CdSe nanoparticles have wurtzite hexagonal structure. The FTIR and Raman spectra reveal that CdSe nanoparticles are grown on rGO sheets. Results of SEM and TEM indicate that hybrid structure with low rGO loading shows homogeneous dispersion of CdSe on rGO sheets, while high loading leads to the agglomeration of CdSe nanoparticles. UV–vis absorption spectra indicates that CdSe-rGO nanohybrids enhance absorbance in UV as well as visible region, while intensity of PL decreases as compared to CdSe. An improvement in photo-degradation of MB by CdSe-rGO nanohybrids is observed, which is described in term of interaction between CdSe nanoparticles and rGO. This plays a crucial role to minimize recombination of charge carriers through transfer of electron from CdSe to rGO.