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      Permanent link:
      https://www.ias.ac.in/article/fulltext/boms/046/0083

    • Keywords

       

      ZnO–TiO$_2$/rGO; photocatalysis; hydroxylation; indigo carmine; solar light.

    • Abstract

       

      To overcome the limitations of ZnO as a photocatalyst, the present work reports a ternary nanocomposite (ZnO–TiO$_2$/rGO) with a high photocatalytic activity under direct natural solar light irradiation. Reduced graphene oxide(rGO) was obtained after bio-reduction of GO using pomegranate peels. Techniques of FE-SEM, TEM, XRD, FTIR, UV–Vis DRS, Raman and PL were used for characterization purpose. The ternary nanocomposite exhibited a highphotocatalytic activity towards the degradation of indigo carmine dye, resulting in an efficiency of 92% within 150 min under sunlight illumination. Accordingly, the hybridization of ZnO with TiO$_2$ and rGO improves light absorption,promotes high separation of photogenerated charges, and solves the photocorrosion drawback of ZnO, leading to a better stability and reusability of the nanocomposite. Particularly, the prepared rGO allowed certain hydrophilicity and a better surface hydroxylation. In view of that, a comprehensive photocatalytic mechanism was proposed and discussed, referred to experiments showing the effect of holes and ${}^•$OH scavengers. The findings revealed that the developed rGO hybridized with ZnO–TiO$_2$ heterojunction can be a promising candidate for removing environmental contaminations using natural solar light.

    • Author Affiliations

       

      KHAOULA KACEM1 2 JUAN CASANOVA-CHAFER3 ABDESSALEM HAMROUNI4 SAMI AMEUR2 5 FRANK GÜELL6 MOHAMED FAOUZI NSIB1 2 EDUARD LLOBET3

      1. Higher School of Sciences and Technology of Hammam, University of Sousse, 4011 Sousse, Tunisia
      2. 2NANOMISENE Laboratory, LR16CRMN01, Centre for Research on Microelectronics and Nanotechnology (CRMN), Technopole of Sousse, B.P 334, 4054 Sousse, Tunisia
      3. Universitat Rovira i Virgili, MINOS, Avda. Paı¨sos Catalans, 26, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
      4. Research Unit Catalysis and Materials for the Environment and Processes URCMEP, National School of Engineers of Gabes, University of Gabes, University Campus, 6072 Gabes, Tunisia
      5. High Agronomic Institute of Chott Meriem, University of Sousse, 4042 Sousse, Tunisia
      6. ENFOCAT-IN2UB, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain

    • Dates

       
      Published
      20 April 2023
      Manuscript received
      17 October 2022
      Accepted
      16 January 2023
      Final version published online
      20 April 2023

  • Bulletin of Materials Science | News

    • Dr Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar for Science and Technology

      Posted on October 12, 2020

      Prof. Subi Jacob George — Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bengaluru
      Chemical Sciences 2020

      Prof. Surajit Dhara — School of Physics, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad
      Physical Sciences 2020

    • Editorial Note on Continuous Article Publication

      Posted on July 25, 2019

      Click here for Editorial Note on CAP Mode

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