Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue using Fe2O3/graphene/CuO nanocomposites under visible light

A visible light-responsive photocatalyst of Fe2O3/graphene/CuO (FGC) nanocomposite was successfully synthesized via a simple solvothermal method. The characteristics of the as-prepared graphene/mixed metal oxides were examined by XRD, SEM, EDS, TEM, and HR-TEM, and its magnetic property was evaluated by VSM. The analysis clearly revealed that the FGC hybrid catalyst, having a bandgap of 1.82 eV, has the ability to absorb visible light as observed from the UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectrum. The photocatalytic performance of FGC, subjected to visible light, in degrading methylene blue was evaluated. Its photocatalytic degradation property was found to be higher in the presence of visible light as compared to the other catalysts. In addition, the postulated mechanism of the photocatalytic property of this graphene/mixed metal oxides hybrid composite has been discussed. The present work demonstrates that this graphene/metal oxide hybrid nanocomposite can also be applied as a highly potent photocatalyst degrader for other dye pollutants.