title: Fabrication of ternary reduced graphene oxide/SnS2/ZnFe2O4composite for high visible-light photocatalytic activity and stability.
abstract: Metal sulfides are promising photocatalysts for efficient removal of organic pollutants in wastewater. However, the practical application of these catalysts is limited due to the fast recombination of charge carriers and poor catalyst stability. In this study, ternary reduced graphene oxide/SnS2/ZnFe2O4(rGO/SnS2/ZnFe2O4) composites were synthesized by a hydrothermal process, and rGO content was optimized. The surface morphology, crystal structure, optical and electrochemical properties of rGO/SnS2/ZnFe2O4composites were characterized. The adsorption capacity and visible-light photocatalytic activity of rGO/SnS2/ZnFe2O4were influenced by rGO content with results revealing an optimal rGO content of 7wt.%. The 7% rGO/SnS2/ZnFe2O4composite demonstrated the highest visible-light photocatalytic activity with almost 100% 2-nitrophenol removal, which could be attributed to the efficient charge separation, and the formation of O2-, h+and a few OH radicals. The possible photocatalytic mechanism of rGO/SnS2/ZnFe2O4composites was also provided based on the role of rGO and the energy bands of SnS2and ZnFe2O4. Moreover, rGO/SnS2/ZnFe2O4composites exhibit excellent reusability without an obvious decline in the photocatalytic activity after four degradation-regeneration cycles. The results indicate that ternary rGO/SnS2/ZnFe2O4composites have good prospect in practical removal of organic pollutants in wastewater due to high efficiency and excellent stability.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Jiangxi Province for Persistent Pollutants Control and Resources Recycle, Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang 330063, PR China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Jiangxi Province for Persistent Pollutants Control and Resources Recycle, Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang 330063, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaoying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Jiangxi Province for Persistent Pollutants Control and Resources Recycle, Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang 330063, PR China.
authors.forename: Xule
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Jiangxi Province for Persistent Pollutants Control and Resources Recycle, Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang 330063, PR China. Electronic address: luoxubiao@126.com.
authors.forename: Xubiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Jiangxi Province for Persistent Pollutants Control and Resources Recycle, Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang 330063, PR China. Electronic address: sllou@hnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Shenglian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Environmental Engineering and Science Program, Department of Biomedical, Chemical and Environmental Engineering (DBCEE), University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0012, USA.
authors.forename: Dionysios D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Dionysiou
keywords: Composite; Photocatalytic mechanism; Regeneration; Visible light; rGO/SnS(2)/ZnFe(2)O(4)