Congo Red Dye Degradation by Graphene Nanoplatelets/Doped Bismuth Ferrite Nanoparticle Hybrid Catalysts under Dark and Light Conditions

The continuously growing need for clean water has increased research looking for new and efficient ways to treat wastewater. Due to its magnetic properties, Bismuth ferrite, a photo-catalyst, has introduced a novel field of photo-catalysis where the photo-catalytic material could easily be separated...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Catalysts 2020-04, Vol.10 (4), p.367
Main Authors: Fatima, Sabeen, Ali, S. Irfan, Iqbal, Muhammad Z., Rizwan, Syed
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aqueous solutions
Bismuth ferrite
Catalysis
Catalysts
Catalytic activity
Chemical bonds
Chemical reactions
dark conditions
Degradation
Dyes
Gadolinium
Graphene
graphene platelets
Hydroxyl groups
Light
Magnetic properties
nanohybrids
Nanoparticles
Particle size
Photocatalysis
photocatalytic activity
Photoelectrons
Photovoltaic cells
Sn and Gd co-doped BFO
Sol-gel processes
Tin
visible light
Wastewater treatment
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Summary:The continuously growing need for clean water has increased research looking for new and efficient ways to treat wastewater. Due to its magnetic properties, Bismuth ferrite, a photo-catalyst, has introduced a novel field of photo-catalysis where the photo-catalytic material could easily be separated from the aqueous solution after wastewater treatment. Herein, a new type of photo-catalysts, composed of Gadolinium (Gd) and Tin (Sn), co-doped Bismuth Ferrite deposited over graphene nanoplatelet surface have been synthesized using a two-step method. In first step, Gd (fixed concentration 10%) and Sn (5%, 15%, 20% and 25%) were doped inside bismuth ferrite (BFO) host using sol-gel method (namely the BGFSO nanoparticles, abbreviated for Gd and Sn doped BFO). In the second step, BGFSO nanoparticles were introduced onto GNPs using co-precipitation method (namely the BGFSO/GNP nanohybrids). The x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the chemical bonding between co-doped BFO and GNP sheets via oxy and hydroxyl groups. The photocatalytic activities of the nanohybrids under both, visible light and dark conditions have been increased, and the maximum degradation activity (74%) of organic dye Congo-red (CR) is obtained for 25% Sn-doped BGFSO/GNP nanohybrid. The photocatalytic activity may be attributed to enhanced adsorption capability, electron storage properties of graphene and the presence of oxygen-rich species inside nanohybrids. Based on the current overgrowing population and need for clean water, these materials present versatile potential as catalysts for wastewater treatment.
ISSN:2073-4344
2073-4344
DOI:10.3390/catal10040367