Abstract
The fabrication of graphene/graphene oxide bounded metal nanostructures, to form hybrid composites, and their utilization for the remediation of organic dyes have been received much attention because of their economic, safety, and environmental points of view. The aim of the present study was the synthesis and structural characterization of various types of graphene oxide (GO) and GO nanocomposites and the analysis of their morphology and photocatalytic activities. The GO nanoparticles and GO bounded Au and ZnO nanocomposites have been synthesized by the modified hummers, and ultrasonic-assisted solution methods. The structural investigation of the synthesized nanocomposites was carried out using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transforms infrared radiation, and transmission electron microscopy. Meanwhile, their photocatalytic activities were investigated, using various models, by the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under simulated visible-ultraviolet irradiation. The maximum efficiency and performance of the photodegradation were observed for the porous graphene oxide (PGO) nanoparticles. The models such as pseudo-first and second-order, intra-particle diffusion, Boyd, and Elovic have applied to detailed study the mechanisms of the photocatalytic degradation process. According to the experimental results, the PGO has a high performance for MB-based wasted water compared to other investigated catalysts.