Abstract
Silver doped manganese cobalt spinel mixed oxides (Ag/MnCo2O4) were synthesized through solvent free wet chemical approach. As-synthesized Ag/MnCo2O4 nanoparticles were embedded with reduced graphene oxide nanosheets (rGO) to synthesize Ag/MnCo2O4/rGO nanocomposite. Different techniques (XRD, FTIR, SEM and UV/VIS) were carried out to study structural and morphological properties. XRD analysis determined cubic face centered structure of synthesized MnCo2O4, Ag/MnCo2O4 and Ag/MnCo2O4/rGO nanocomposite. Methylene blue was used as organic pollutant to investigate photocatalytic test. Degradation percentages for MnCo2O4, Ag/MnCo2O4 and Ag/MnCo2O4/rGO nanocomposite were determined 43.24%, 50% and 84.3% respectively. Ag/MnCo2O4/rGO nanocomposite showed highest degradation efficiency under sunlight.
•MnCo2O4 was successfully synthesized via solvent free approach.•Various physio-chemical techniques were used to characterize the prepared materials.•The as fabricated nanocatalysts were used for the degradation of methylene blue under sunlight.•rGO based nanocomposite exhibited maximum degradation efficiency.•The doping of silver and presence of rGO sheets help to increase the photo-degradation ability of MnCo2O4.