Functionalized nitrogen-enrich graphene as a highly efficient photocatalyst for oxidative cyclization of thioamide and degradation of Dye

Functionalized photocatalysts have shown to be an effective method for oxidative cyclization processes and the degradation of organic poisons like chemicals and dyes. In this study, we report the facile, environmentally friendly, room-temperature (RT) synthesis and development of a graphene-based visible light active photocatalyst (NenG-RhB) which is thermodynamically converted to nitrogen-enriched graphene (NenG) covalently bonded to a light-harvesting RhB molecule [9-(2-Carboxyphenyl)-6-(diethylamino)-N, N-diethyl-3H-xanthen-3iminium chloride)]. The NenG-RhB photocatalyst is extremely effective, resulting in good oxidative cyclization of aromatic thioamide (92.5 %) and degradation efficiency of industrial orange G (97.29 %) under solar light. The current research focuses on the invention and implementation of a nitrogen-enrich graphene-based photocatalyst for direct solar medicinal chemical synthesis and industrial dye degradation in wastewater using solar light.