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Multifunctional graphene-based nanocomposites for simultaneous enhanced photocatalytic degradation and photothermal antibacterial activity by visible light

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Abstract

A new strategy for the wastewater treatment was proposed by combining polyvinylpyrrolidone-functionalized silver nanoparticles with reduced graphene oxide (AgNPs-PVP@rGO) as a visible light-triggered photoactive nanocomposite. The nanocomposite with enhanced photocatalytic degradation and photothermal antibacterial activity can simultaneously decrease the content of organic pollutants and bacteria in the wastewater under visible light irradiation. The efficiency of photocatalytic degradation can be significantly improved by the conjugation of AgNPs onto the rGO surface. The water solubility and dispersion of nanocomposite can be increased via PVP functionalization, without stirring during the photocatalytic process. Under the optimal synthesis condition, AgNPs-PVP@rGO has a photocatalytic degradation efficiency of 90.1% for rhodamine B, which is 6.9 and 1.8 times higher than that of polyvinylpyrrolidone-functionalized silver nanoparticles and rGO alone, respectively. More importantly, the degradation efficiency of optimal AgNPs-PVP@rGO sol on rhodamine B is significantly higher than that of its block suspension in the same amount, indicating that the sol with more specific surface area is conducive to the photocatalytic reaction. Meanwhile, the AgNPs-PVP@rGO with excellent photothermal activity can effectively inhibit the bacterial growth. This functional modification of graphene provides a new strategy for simultaneous treatment of multiple pollutants in wastewater.

Graphical abstract

The AgNPs-PVP@rGO nanocomposites for simultaneous enhanced photocatalytic degradation and photothermal antibacterial activity by visible light.

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Data Availability

The datasets used or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51703259).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Zhongyuan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, 450007, People’s Republic of China

    Ya-kun Lv, Lin Mei, Liu-xue Zhang & De-hong Yang

  2. Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, People’s Republic of China

    Ya-kun Lv

  3. College of International Education, Zhongyuan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, 450007, People’s Republic of China

    Zi-yu Yin

Authors
  1. Ya-kun Lv
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  2. Lin Mei
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  3. Liu-xue Zhang
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  4. De-hong Yang
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  5. Zi-yu Yin
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Contributions

Ya-kun Lv analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript; Lin Mei designed and supported the experiment; and Liu-xue Zhang and De-hong Yang helped perform the analysis with constructive discussions; Zi-yu Yin performed the experiment.

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Correspondence to Lin Mei.

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Lv, Yk., Mei, L., Zhang, Lx. et al. Multifunctional graphene-based nanocomposites for simultaneous enhanced photocatalytic degradation and photothermal antibacterial activity by visible light. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 49880–49888 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14199-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14199-5

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