Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of rGO-ZnO/CuO Nanocomposites for Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants
Nanomaterial-based catalytic conversion of hazardous organic pollutants into benign substances is one of the green methods employed for wastewater treatment. This study demonstrates the fabrication of (rGO-ZnO)/CuO nanocomposites (NCs) via a microwave (MW)-assisted method for (photo)catalytic applic...
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/1/133 |
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| author | Aklilu Guale Bekru Lemma Teshome Tufa Osman Ahmed Zelekew Juyong Gwak Jaebeom Lee Fedlu Kedir Sabir |
| author_facet | Aklilu Guale Bekru Lemma Teshome Tufa Osman Ahmed Zelekew Juyong Gwak Jaebeom Lee Fedlu Kedir Sabir |
| author_sort | Aklilu Guale Bekru |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nanomaterial-based catalytic conversion of hazardous organic pollutants into benign substances is one of the green methods employed for wastewater treatment. This study demonstrates the fabrication of (rGO-ZnO)/CuO nanocomposites (NCs) via a microwave (MW)-assisted method for (photo)catalytic application. The crystal structure, optical, morphological, and electrochemical characteristics were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), spectroscopic, microscopic, and electrochemical techniques. The analysis indicated that rod-like (rGO-ZnO)/CuO NCs having a nanoscale diameter with enhanced light absorption and well-matched band positions between rGO-ZnO and CuO were formed. Furthermore, the catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) and photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) tests showed remarkable results with rate constants of 0.468 min<sup>−1</sup> for 4-NP reduction within 8 min and 0.02213 min<sup>−1</sup> for MB degradation within 105 min. Thus, the artful decoration of ZnO nanorods (NRs) with CuO into the (rGO-ZnO)/CuO NCs interface is an effective strategy for fabricating highly efficient photocatalysts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:06:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d6fad1d058364e9b9814bddafc997f5d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4352 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:06:06Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Crystals |
| spelling | doaj.art-d6fad1d058364e9b9814bddafc997f5d2023-11-30T21:48:27ZengMDPI AGCrystals2073-43522023-01-0113113310.3390/cryst13010133Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of rGO-ZnO/CuO Nanocomposites for Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic PollutantsAklilu Guale Bekru0Lemma Teshome Tufa1Osman Ahmed Zelekew2Juyong Gwak3Jaebeom Lee4Fedlu Kedir Sabir5Department of Applied Chemistry, Adama Science and Technology University, Adama P.O. Box 1888, EthiopiaDepartment of Applied Chemistry, Adama Science and Technology University, Adama P.O. Box 1888, EthiopiaDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Adama Science and Technology University, Adama P.O. Box 1888, EthiopiaDepartment of Chemistry, Chemistry Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of KoreaResearch Institute of Materials Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Applied Chemistry, Adama Science and Technology University, Adama P.O. Box 1888, EthiopiaNanomaterial-based catalytic conversion of hazardous organic pollutants into benign substances is one of the green methods employed for wastewater treatment. This study demonstrates the fabrication of (rGO-ZnO)/CuO nanocomposites (NCs) via a microwave (MW)-assisted method for (photo)catalytic application. The crystal structure, optical, morphological, and electrochemical characteristics were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), spectroscopic, microscopic, and electrochemical techniques. The analysis indicated that rod-like (rGO-ZnO)/CuO NCs having a nanoscale diameter with enhanced light absorption and well-matched band positions between rGO-ZnO and CuO were formed. Furthermore, the catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) and photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) tests showed remarkable results with rate constants of 0.468 min<sup>−1</sup> for 4-NP reduction within 8 min and 0.02213 min<sup>−1</sup> for MB degradation within 105 min. Thus, the artful decoration of ZnO nanorods (NRs) with CuO into the (rGO-ZnO)/CuO NCs interface is an effective strategy for fabricating highly efficient photocatalysts.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/1/133p-n heterojunctions(rGO-ZnO)/CuO nanocompositesnanorodsphotocatalysiscatalytic reduction |
| spellingShingle | Aklilu Guale Bekru Lemma Teshome Tufa Osman Ahmed Zelekew Juyong Gwak Jaebeom Lee Fedlu Kedir Sabir Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of rGO-ZnO/CuO Nanocomposites for Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants Crystals p-n heterojunctions (rGO-ZnO)/CuO nanocomposites nanorods photocatalysis catalytic reduction |
| title | Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of rGO-ZnO/CuO Nanocomposites for Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants |
| title_full | Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of rGO-ZnO/CuO Nanocomposites for Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants |
| title_fullStr | Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of rGO-ZnO/CuO Nanocomposites for Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of rGO-ZnO/CuO Nanocomposites for Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants |
| title_short | Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of rGO-ZnO/CuO Nanocomposites for Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants |
| title_sort | microwave assisted synthesis of rgo zno cuo nanocomposites for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants |
| topic | p-n heterojunctions (rGO-ZnO)/CuO nanocomposites nanorods photocatalysis catalytic reduction |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/13/1/133 |
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