Synthesis and characterization of SnO2/rGO nanocomposite for an efficient photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceutical pollutant: Kinetics, mechanism and recyclability. (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shibu, M.C.; Benoy, M.D.; Shanavas, S.; Duraimurugan, J.; Suresh Kumar, G.; Abu Haija, Mohammad; Maadeswaran, P.; Ahamad, T.; Van Le, Quyet; Alshehri, S.M.
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 307:Part 4(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: Photocatalyst -- Visible-light -- Organic pollutant -- Degradation; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136105
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: The SnO2 and SnO2 /rGO nanostructures were successfully synthesized using the facile hydrothermal synthesis technique. The prepared nanostructures were well studied using different techniques such as XRD, XPS, UV-DRS, FT-IR, EDX, SEM and HR-TEM analysis. The crystalline nature of SnO2 and SnO2 /rGO was confirmed by the XRD technique. The formation of highly pure SnO2 and SnO2 /rGO nanostructures was confirmed by EDX analysis. The morphological results show the good agglomeration of several spherical nanoparticles. The optical properties were studied through the UV-DRS technique and the bandgap energies of SnO2 and SnO2 /rGO are estimated to be 3.12 eV and 2.71 eV, respectively. The photocatalytic degradation percentage in presence of SnO2 and SnO2 /rGO against RhB was found to be 96% and 98%, respectively. The degradation of TTC molecules was estimated as 90% and 88% with SnO2 /rGO and SnO2, respectively. The degradation of both RhB and TTC molecules was well suited with the pseudo-first-order kinetics. The results of successive experiments clearly show the enhancement in the photocatalytic properties in the SnO2 /rGO nanostructures. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: SnO2 and SnO2 /rGO were successfully synthesized using hydrothermal technique. Visible light absorption ability of SnO2 and SGO is confirmed by UV-DRS analysis. Photocatalytic activity of SnO2 and SnO2 /rGO was studied against Rhodamine B and Tetracycline. Photocatalytic degradation mechanism is proposed based on optical properties and band edge positions.