\u03b1-Fe2O3/graphene oxide powder and thin film nanocomposites as peculiar photocatalysts for dye removal from wastewater

Mahsa Khoshnam,Masoumeh Zargar,Javad Farahbakhsh,Abdul Wahab Mohammad,Abdelbaki Benamor,Ebrahim Mahmoudi,Wei Lun Ang

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-99849-x

Abstract

In this study, hematite graphene oxide (αFe2O3-GO) powder nanocomposites and thin-film hematite graphene oxide (αFe2O3-GO) were synthesized for application in the removal of Rhodamine B (RhB) from textile wastewater. αFe2O3-GO nanomaterials were placed onto the FTO substrate to form a thin layer of nanocomposites. Different analysis including XRD, FTIR, Raman spectra, XPS, and FESEM were done to analyze the morphology, structure, and properties of the synthesized composites as well as the chemical interactions of αFe2O3 with GO. The photocatalytic performance of two synthesized composites was compared with different concentrations of αFe2O3-GO. The results showed that powder nanocomposites are more effective than thin-film composites for the removal of RhB dye. αFe2O3-GO-5% powder nanocomposites removed over 64% of dye while thin-film nanocomposites had less removal efficiencies with just under 47% removal rate. The reusability test was done for both materials in which αFe2O3-GO-5% powder nanocomposites removed a higher rate of dye (up to 63%) in more cycles (6 cycles).

Highlights

IntroductionHematite graphene oxide (αFe2O3-GO) powder nanocomposites and thin-film hematite graphene oxide (αFe2O3-GO) were synthesized for application in the removal of Rhodamine B (RhB) from textile wastewater. αFe2O3-GO nanomaterials were placed onto the Fluorine-doped Tin Oxide (FTO) substrate to form a thin layer of nanocomposites
In this study, hematite graphene oxide powder nanocomposites and thin-film hematite graphene oxide were synthesized for application in the removal of Rhodamine B (RhB) from textile wastewater. αFe2O3-GO nanomaterials were placed onto the Fluorine-doped Tin Oxide (FTO) substrate to form a thin layer of nanocomposites
The X-ray diffraction (XRD) of GO with symbol (*) displays a characteristic peak at 10.37° with an index of (001) defining 0.83 nm d-spacing which is increased from 0.34 nm interlayer spacing of graphite. This specific peaks could be seen in GO/ α-Fe2O3 XRD analysis which indicates no transformation occurred on GO sheets during synthesis as well as that confirms existence of graphene oxide in GO-α-Fe2O3 nanocomposite

Summary

Introduction

Hematite graphene oxide (αFe2O3-GO) powder nanocomposites and thin-film hematite graphene oxide (αFe2O3-GO) were synthesized for application in the removal of Rhodamine B (RhB) from textile wastewater. αFe2O3-GO nanomaterials were placed onto the FTO substrate to form a thin layer of nanocomposites. The results showed that powder nanocomposites are more effective than thin-film composites for the removal of RhB dye. There are numerous methods for degradation of Rhodamine B and treating of the contaminated water some of which include electrochemical oxidation These approaches only convert organic compounds to carbon dioxide and less harmful molecules, which remain in the water as a second-pollutant. The photocatalytic process is one of the effective methods to address the issues due to its effectiveness, low cost, environmentally friendly process, and producing nontoxic components. This system is based on semiconductor materials such as metal oxides ( TiO2, Fe2O3, WO3, ZnO, B i3O3, MnO2, SnO2) and metal sulfides (ZnS, CdS, MoS2, ZnS2). Hematite can be effectively used in photoelectrochemical reactors

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