CHEMISTRYSELECT, cilt.8, sa.37, 2023 (SCI-Expanded)
In this work, cobalt activated TiO(2 )photocatalyst have been successfully prepared on graphene oxide (GO) using simple and cost-effective method to prepare Co-TiO2/GO nanocomposites for the photocatalytic treatment of methylene blue (MB), representative organic dye, under visible light irradiation. The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), High resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-vis diffused reflectance spectra (DRS), Raman spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The characterization results confirmed that Co-TiO(2 )catalyst is decorated on the graphene oxide. The photocatalytic efficiency of Co-TiO2/GO for the degradation of MB was also improved by changing the proportion between Co-TiO2 and GO. Highest photocatalytic activity was observed for Co-TiO2 loaded with 5 wt % GO (88.7 %) compared with neat Co-TiO2 (43.4 %) after 180 min of visible light irradiation. Furthermore, degradation by products was analyzed on Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy (QTOF/LCMS) and the possible degradation pathway was proposed. It is investigated that the Co-TiO2/GO nanocomposite has potential use in the catalytic degradation of organic contaminants under visible light irradiation.