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Design and photo-Fenton performance of Graphene/CuS/Fe3O4 tertiary nanocomposites for Rhodamine B degradation.

Design and photo-Fenton performance of Graphene/CuS/Fe3O4 tertiary nanocomposites for Rhodamine B degradation.

Authors :
Matos, Renata
Kuźniarska-Biernacka, Iwona
Rocha, Mariana
Belo, João H.
Araújo, João Pedro
Estrada, Ana C.
Lopes, Joana L.
Shah, Tushti
Korgel, Brian A.
Pereira, Clara
Trindade, Tito
Freire, Cristina
Source :
Catalysis Today. Jun2023, Vol. 418, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

This study describes nanocomposites of graphene flakes (GF) combined with CuS, Fe 3 O 4 and CuS−Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles prepared by wet chemical methods. The Fe 3 O 4 and/or CuS nanoparticles were directly anchored onto GF without requiring additional chemical treatment. The composition, structure and morphology of the nanocomposites, as well as of the pristine GF and metal oxide/sulfide nanoparticles were characterised by X − ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), powder X − ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. The results confirmed the successful attachment of CuS nanophases (size range: 23.7–50.1 nm) and/or Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles (size range: 10.6–15.8 nm). The adsorption and photocatalytic properties of the GF−based nanocomposites were evaluated at room temperature using Rhodamine B (RhB) as a model contaminant. Theoretical models were fitted to the adsorption kinetic results using the pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and Elovich equations, while the adsorption mechanism was determined using the intraparticle diffusion, Bangham and Boyd models. The RhB adsorption efficiency was 6.5% for GF@CuS−Fe 3 O 4 after 180 min contact time, whereas for the other materials was significantly higher: 97.6%, 60.9% and 31.9% for GF, GF@CuS and GF@Fe 3 O 4 , respectively. The adsorption capacity of GF and composites fitted the pseudo−second−order kinetic and Elovich models. The influence of the nanostructures composition on the corresponding photocatalytic activity in the degradation of RhB under a 150 W halogen lamp was also evaluated. The GF@CuS−Fe 3 O 4 nanocomposite totally eliminated the dissolved RhB after 60 min irradiation, whereas the GF@CuS, GF@Fe 3 O 4 and pristine Fe 3 O 4 removed 75.6%, 80.9% and 30.8%, respectively, after 180 min irradiation. It was found that the photocatalytic behaviour of the composites was best described by the first−order kinetic model. The rate constant of the photocatalytic RhB removal for GF@CuS−Fe 3 O 4 (k = 7.05 ×10−2 min−1) was 2.1, 5.1 and 15.0 times higher than those obtained for GF@CuS, GF@Fe 3 O 4 and pristine Fe 3 O 4 , respectively, after 60 min of visible light irradiation. [Display omitted] • Green and scalable method for the preparation of two- or three-component graphene flakes/CuS/Fe 3 O 4 composites. • RhB adsorption process (31.9–60.9%) is controlled and limited by chemisorption and reaches equilibrium after 30–60 min. • High to excellent dye degradation efficiency (78%−98% in 60 min) under mild reaction conditions. • The three-component composite presented 15 × faster performance than the two-component counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
09205861
Volume :
418
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Catalysis Today
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
163891021
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2023.114132