Ag/αFe2O3-rGO novel ternary nanocomposites: Synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic activity

In this research, novel ternary Ag/alpha Fe2O3-rGO nanocomposites with various contents of GO were synthesized via a facile one-pot hydrothermal method. Ag/alpha Fe2O3-rGO nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). The results showed that hematite nanoparticles and Ag nanoparticles were well decorated on the graphene surface. Photocatalytic activity of Ag/alpha Fe2O3-rGO ternary nanocomposites and pure Ag/alpha Fe2O3 was investigated for photodegradation of Congo red dye solution as a model pollutant under UV light irradiation. The ternary nanocomposite with 1.8 mg/ml GO aqueous solution concentration shows higher degradation efficiency under UV light irradiation than the pure Ag/alpha Fe2O3 and the nanocomposites with other GO aqueous solution concentrations. It was observed that the adsorption of the dyes on the nanocomposites surface is dependent on the graphene content due to a decrease in the recombination rate, particles size, and increase charge carrier transfer. The results show that the Ag/alpha Fe2O3-rGO nanocomposite can be used as an excellent photocatalytic material for degradation of Congo red dye in wastewater. A possible photocatalytic mechanism was proposed for degradation of Congo red dye.