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Photocatalytic degradation of indigo carmine using Nd-doped TiO2-decorated graphene oxide nanocomposites

  • Original Paper: Industrial and technological applications of sol-gel and hybrid materials
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Abstract

A series of neodymium-doped titanium dioxide (Nd–TiO2) decorated on graphene oxide (GO) were synthesized by sol–gel method. The structures, morphologies and optical properties of the nanocomposites (Nd–TiO2–GO) were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. The photocatalytic study of Nd–TiO2–GO nanocomposites was evaluated via the degradation of indigo carmine under simulated solar light. Results demonstrated that the photodegradation efficiency of indigo carmine solutions irradiated by solar simulated light for 3 h with the nanocomposites used as a catalyst reached a level of 92 % (0.6 % Nd). This high photocatalytic degradation of indigo carmine solutions by the Nd–TiO2–GO nanocomposites is ascribed to the spherical nanocrystalline size of TiO2.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are extremely grateful to Faculty of science, University of Johannesburg, South Africa, the National Research Fund (TTK14052167682) of South Africa, Centre for Nanoscience and Research for financial support. Authors are thankful to Mr. A. Sacko, Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, for his help during the characterization of the materials. The authors (SKS and ESA) also acknowledge financial support from Global Excellence and Stature fellowship from the University of Johannesburg.

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  1. Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein Campus, Johannesburg, 2028, South Africa

    Samuel Osei-Bonsu Oppong, William W. Anku, Sudheesh K. Shukla, Eric S. Agorku & Poomani P. Govender

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  1. Samuel Osei-Bonsu Oppong
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  2. William W. Anku
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Correspondence to Samuel Osei-Bonsu Oppong.

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Oppong, S.OB., Anku, W.W., Shukla, S.K. et al. Photocatalytic degradation of indigo carmine using Nd-doped TiO2-decorated graphene oxide nanocomposites. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 80, 38–49 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-016-4062-8

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