title: Facile synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles decorated graphene oxide composite via simple solvothermal route and their photocatalytic activity on methylene blue degradation.
abstract: Zinc oxide nanoparticles decorated graphene oxide (ZnO@GO) composite was synthesized by simple solvothermal method where zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles and graphene oxide (GO) were synthesized via simple thermal oxidation and Hummers method, respectively. The obtained materials were thoroughly characterized by various physico-chemical techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectrum shows the intensity of D to G value was close to one which confirms the obtained GO and ZnO@GO composite possesses moderate graphitization. TEM images shows the ZnO nanoparticles mean size of 15±5nm were dispersed over the wrinkled graphene layers. The photocatalytic performance of ZnO@GO composite on degradation of methylene blue (MB) is investigated and the results show that the GO plays an important role in the enhancement of photocatalytic performance. The synthesized ZnO@GO composite achieves a maximum degradation efficiency of 98.5% in a neutral solution under UV-light irradiation for 15min as compared with pure ZnO (degradation efficiency is 49% after 60min of irradiation) due to the increased light absorption, the reduced charge recombination with the introduction of GO. Moreover, the resulting ZnO@GO composite possesses excellent degradation efficiency as compared to ZnO nanoparticles alone on MB.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: atchudanr@yu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Raji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Atchudan
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Thomas Nesakumar Jebakumar Immanuel
authors.initials: TNJI
authors.lastname: Edison
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Suguna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perumal
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Arignar Anna College of Arts and Science, Krishnagiri 635 001, Tamilnadu, India.
authors.forename: Dhanapalan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karthikeyan
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: yrlee@yu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Yong Rok
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D060326:Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012997:Solvents; D006108:Graphite; D015034:Zinc Oxide; D008751:Methylene Blue
keywords: Degradation; Graphene oxide; Irradiation; Methylene blue; Photocatalyst; Zinc oxide