Synthesis and characterization of rGO supported silver doped bimetallic ZnCo2O4 spinel oxides for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of industrial effluents

In the current report, Silver doped Zinc Cobaltite (AgZnCo2O4, AgZCO) nanoparticles have been synthesized through a solvent-free strategy. Synthesized AgZCO nanoparticles were integrated with the reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets to prepare the AgZCO@rGO composite. Structural and morphological properties of ZCO, AgZCO, and AgZCO@rGO were studied by various physio-chemical techniques. X-rays diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that all prepared samples possess face-centered cubic crystal structures with crystallite sizes of 5.79 nm, 5.27 nm, and 5.16 nm for ZCO, AgZCO, and AgZCO@rGO, respectively. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis displayed that small spherical nanoparticles of AgZCO were wrapped inside rGO, along with some of the particles present on the surface of rGO sheets. FT-IR characterization showed the presence of all necessary vibrational modes. The results of the photocatalytic experiment showed that 41.97%, 58.02%, and 75.30% MB dye was degraded by the ZCO, AgZCO, and AgZCO@rGO respectively. 65.06% methyl orange dye was degraded by the AgZCO@rGO and it showed the highest percentage degradation with a higher kinetic rate than ZCO and AgZCO catalysts.

Automated summary

In this study, Silver doped Zinc Cobaltite (AgZnCo2O4, AgZCO) nanoparticles were synthesized using a solvent-free strategy and integrated with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets to form the AgZCO@rGO composite. The structural and morphological properties of the prepared samples were analyzed using various physio-chemical techniques. The photocatalytic experiments showed that AgZCO@rGO had a higher degradation efficiency than ZCO and AgZCO catalysts.