One-pot green synthesis of reduced graphene oxide (RGO)/Fe3O4 nanocomposites and its catalytic activity toward methylene blue dye degradation

The reduced graphene oxide (RGO)/Fe3O4 nanocomposites were synthesized through a facile one-pot green synthesis by using solanum trilobatum extract as a reducing agent. Spherical shaped Fe3O4 nanoparticles with the diameter of 18 nm were uniformly anchored over the RGO matrix and the existence of fcc structured Fe3O4 nanoparticles over the RGO matrix was ensured from X-ray diffraction patterns. The amide functional groups exist in the solanum trilobatum extract is directly responsible for the reduction of Fe3+ ions and GO. The thermal stability of GO was increased by the removal of hydrophilic functional groups via solanum trilobatum extract and was further promoted by the ceramic Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The I-D/I-G ratio of RGO/Fe3O4 was increased over GO, indicating the extended number of structural defects and disorders in the RGO/Fe3O4 composite. The catalytic efficiency of prepared nanostructures toward methylene blue (MB) dye degradation mediated through the electron transfer process of BH4- ions was studied in detail. The pi-pi stacking, hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction exerted between the RGO/Fe3O4 composite and methylene blue, increased the adsorption efficiency of dye molecules and the large surface area and extended number of active sites completely degraded the MB dye within 12 min. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.