Sunlight-Induced photochemical synthesis of Au nanodots on α-Fe
2O
3@Reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite and their enhanced heterogeneous catalytic properties.
Sci Rep 2018;
8:5718. [PMID:
29632316 PMCID:
PMC5890287 DOI:
10.1038/s41598-018-24066-y]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In this present study, we report the synthesis of Au nanodots on α-Fe2O3@reduced graphene oxide (RGO) based hetero-photocatalytic nanohybrids through a chlorophyll mediated photochemical synthesis. In this process, chlorophyll induces a rapid reduction (30 min) of Au3+ ions to Au° metallic nanodots on α-Fe2O3@RGO surface under sunlight irradiation. The nucleation growth process, photo-induced electron-transfer mechanism and physico-chemical properties of the Au@α-Fe2O3@RGO ternary nanocomposites were systematically studied with various analytical techniques. This novel photochemical synthesis process is a cost-effective, convenient, surfactant-less, and scalable method. Moreover, the prepared ternary nanocomposites enhanced catalytic activity as compared to pure α-Fe2O3 and α-Fe2O3@RGO. The advantages and synergistic effect of Au@α-Fe2O3@RGO exhibit, (i) a broader range of visible-light absorption due to visible light band gap of α-Fe2O3, (ii) lower recombination possibility of photo-generated electrons and holes due to effect of Au and (iii) faster electron transfer due to higher conductivity of RGO. Therefore, the prepared Au@α-Fe2O3@RGO hetero-photocatalytic nanohybrids exhibited a remarkable photocatalytic activity, thus enabling potential active hetero-photocatalyst for industrial and environmental applications.
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