Synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic activity of visible-light-driven Mn3O4 and reduced graphene oxide- Mn3O4 nanocomposite

Mousa, M.A.; Rashad, M.M.; Mokhtar, M.M.; El Shazli, Mahmoud E.

doi:10.21608/jbes.2020.371469

Synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic activity of visible-light-driven Mn3O4 and reduced graphene oxide- Mn3O4 nanocomposite

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Chemistry department, Faculty of Science, Benha University, Benha, Egypt.

² Electronic and Magnetic Materials Department, Advanced Materials Division,Central Metallurgical Research &Development Institute(CMRDI), Helwan, Cairo, Egypt.

10.21608/jbes.2020.371469

Abstract

Simple methods have been used to prepare rGO, Mn3O4 (M) and rGO-Mn3O4 (rGO-M) nanocomposite. The prepared
samples were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, BET, TEM, , Photoluminescence (PL), and UV-vis absorption techniques. Xray diffraction (XRD) and FT-IR confirmed the formation of rGO-M nanocomposites and transmission electron microscopy
(TEM) study revealed that M nanomaterials with average size 75 nm were embedded on rGO surface. Under visible light
illumination both M and rGO-M were successfully degrade the MB organic dye in water with more efficiency for the
nanocomposite sample due to high surface area of rGO. The dye degradations were investigated under several experimental
parameters such as pH, catalyst load, dye concentration, and catalyst recovery. The rGO-M nanocomposite sample showed
good photostability after five cycling process. A photocatalytic mechanism has been propsed for the photodegradation
process