Silver ferrite–graphene nanocomposite and its good photocatalytic performance in air and visible light for organic dye removal

• Published in: Applied organometallic chemistry Vol. 31; no. 4; pp. np - n/a
• Main Authors: Hosseini, Seyed Majid, Hosseini‐Monfared, Hassan, Abbasi, Vahideh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-04-2017
• Subjects: Catalysts; Catalytic activity; Chemistry; composite; Conduction bands; Contaminants; Degradation; dye degradation; Ferrites; Graphene; Hydroxyl radicals; Light irradiation; Magnetic properties; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Oxidation; Oxidizing agents; Photocatalysis; photocatalyst; Photodegradation; silver ferrite
• ISSN: 0268-2605; 1099-0739
• DOI: 10.1002/aoc.3589

Silver ferrite–graphene (AgFeO2‐G) as a nanocomposite photocatalyst shows potent visible‐light photocatalytic activity for the degradation of organic contaminants, and generates the strong oxidants hydroxyl radical (•OH) and superoxide anion radical (O2•−) via photoelectrochemical decomposition of H2O and O2 in the presence of air and visible light irradiation. The photogenerated electrons of AgFeO2 can transfer easily from the conduction band to the reduced graphene oxide, efficiently preventing the direct recombination of electrons and holes. As a matter of fact, AgFeO2 has a low bandgap. Furthermore, AgFeO2 nanoparticles themselves have a magnetic property, which makes them magnetically separable. The experimental results show that the graphene nanosheets in the nanocomposite catalyst are exfoliated and decorated homogeneously with AgFeO2 nanoparticles. The photodegradation occurs in a short time (ca 40 min). Also, the photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposite does not show any clear loss after ten recycles of the degradation process.
Silver ferrite–graphene (AgFeO2‐G) is a spinel with a relatively narrow bandgap which was prepared by a simple method. To improve its catalytic activity, graphene oxide was used as a support. AgFeO2‐G was photocatalytically active for the degradation of organic contaminants under visible light irradiation in the absence of hydrogen peroxide and in a short time. The catalyst is stable and recyclable using simple magnetic decantation.