Magnetite nanoparticles-TiO2 nanoparticles-graphene oxide nanocomposite: Synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic degradation for Rhodamine-B dye

Herein, a ternary nanocomposite of magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs), TiO2 nanoparticles (TNPs), and graphene oxide (GO) (Fe3O4@TiO2/graphene oxide, GMT) has been successfully synthesized for photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) dye under natural sunlight irradiation, which is a significant elevation in photocatalytic activity and sustainability for both Fe3O4@TiO2 nanoparticles and magnetic GO materials. MNPs was first incorporated with TNPs to form Fe3O4@TiO2 core/shell nanoparticles, followed by the addition of GO. The nanocomposite's morphological, chemical and physical properties were investigated through various spectroscopic techniques such as Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) adsorption. Vibrating-sample magnetometry, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) equation, scanning electron (SEM), and transmission electron (TEM) microscopies were also used for the nanocomposite formation demonstration. In comparison with bare components, GMT samples displayed much higher degradation efficiency on rhodamine B (RhB) dye solutions under natural sunlight irradiation. The nanocomposite, therefore, proclaimed high potential as a "next-step" material of Fe3O4@TiO2 core/shell nanoparticles for pollutants removal from wastewater and other photocatalytic applications.