Thermally-exfoliated graphene Oxide/ZnO nanocomposite catalysts for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and antibacterial activities

Carbon nanomaterials are of great interest due to their enhanced charge separation in hydrogen evolution reactions. Herein, heterostructured TEGO/ZnO nanocomposite catalyst was obtained by combining 3D multilayer graphene-like nanomaterial obtained by green process from recycled carbon source with ZnO to improve photocatalytic activity. Here, photodeposition of MoSx and Pt in aqueous solution is performed on TEGO/ZnO nano composite to obtain TEGO/ZnO/MoSx and TEGO/ZnO/Pt by reducing (NH4)2MoS4 and H2-PtCl6.6H2O, respectively. Photodeposited MoSx and Pt on TEGO/ZnO nanocomposite resulted in enhanced photocatalytic activity and stability due to increased active sites and enhanced electron transfer ability due to cocatalyst effect. In addition, antibacterial activity of TEGO/ZnO nanocomposite against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was investigated by bacterial growth kinetic assay. This work could open up a new nano material for chemical and biological applications.(c) 2023 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study focuses on the synthesis of heterostructured TEGO/ZnO nanocomposite catalyst by combining recycled carbon source with ZnO. Photodeposited MoSx and Pt on TEGO/ZnO nanocomposite show enhanced photocatalytic activity and stability as well as antibacterial activity.