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Synergistic photocatalytic removal of organic pollutants in the aqueous medium using TiO2–Co3O4 decorated graphene oxide nanocomposite

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Abstract

Organic pollutants generated from different industrial sources cause soil and water pollutions, which creates an ecological imbalance. Metal oxide and carbon-based nanocomposites are extensively used to remediate industrial pollution. In this study, TiO2–Co3O4 and TiO2–Co3O4/graphene oxide nanocomposites were prepared and utilized to degrade the organic pollutants such as crystal violet, methylene blue and ofloxacin. The structural, optical and morphological properties of the nanocomposites were confirmed by XRD, FTIR, UV–Vis, FE-SEM, TEM and BET analysis. The XRD and SAED pattern of the nanocomposites confirms the formation of titanium dioxide-cobalt oxide with graphene oxide. The broadening of the hydroxyl group (3556 and 1638 cm−1) and metal oxide band was observed from the FTIR spectra after the incorporation of cobalt oxide and graphene oxide. The EDX spectra confirm the occurrence of Ti, Co, and O peaks in TiO2–Co3O4 (TC), whereas GO-TiO2–Co3O4 (GTC) nanocomposites reveal the occurrence of C, Ti, Co, and O. In the dark condition, the prepared catalyst shows less than 10% of organic pollutant removal. Under light irradiation, GTC catalysts completely degraded the MB, CV and OFX, whereas TC showed 62%, 54%, and 31%, respectively. The enhancement in the photocatalytic removal of organic molecules is due to the decreased particle size, surface area and bandgap of GTC. The photocatalytic behaviour of GTC is significantly higher than the TC, thus it concluded that GTC has the higher efficiency towards the removal of organic pollutants present in the aqueous medium.

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Acknowledgements

The authors appreciated Taif University Researchers Supporting Project Number TURSP-2020/267, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia. This research was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University through the Fast-track Research Funding Program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. PG and Research Department of Chemistry, Bishop Heber College, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, 620017, India

    R. Ranjith & Umamaheswari Rajaji

  2. PG and Research Department of Physics, Nehru Memorial College, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, 621007, India

    S. Ravikumar & V. Pandiyan

  3. Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Taif University, Taif, 21944, Saudi Arabia

    Khamael M. Abualnaja

  4. Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia

    Taghrid S. Alomar & Najla AlMasoud

  5. Advanced Materials Research Chair, Chemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia

    Mohmed Ouladsmne

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  1. R. Ranjith
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Ranjith, R., Ravikumar, S., Pandiyan, V. et al. Synergistic photocatalytic removal of organic pollutants in the aqueous medium using TiO2–Co3O4 decorated graphene oxide nanocomposite. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 33, 9438–9447 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-021-07388-y

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