Abstract
Exfoliated graphite was used as a suitable electrode material for electrochemical, photolysis and photoelectrochemical degradation of organic pollutants.
The effect of four different photoactive nanomaterials (ZrO2, WO3, ZnO and TiO2,) on the degradation ability of exfoliated graphite was investigated separately
We report the synthesis and application of novel exfoliated graphite–zirconium oxide EG-ZrO2 nanocomposite photoanode for the photoelectrochemical degradation of eosin yellowish dye in water. Zirconium oxide nanoparticle was synthesized by sol–gel, method and EG–ZrO2 nanocomposite was synthesized by wet solution method. Photoelectrochemical studies with the EG–ZrO2 nanocomposite showed a significant decrease in the initial dye concentration (20 ppm) compared with the bare exfoliated graphite (EG) and zirconium oxide (ZrO2) only. The results indicate that the ZrO2 nanoparticle in the EG–ZrO2 composite enhanced the degradation efficiency of the EG substrate. Thus, EG–ZrO2 composite can be used for the photoelectrochemical oxidation of organic pollutants, especially organic dyes.
Tungsten-trioxide (WO3) nanoparticles was synthesized by sol-gel method. The exfoliated graphite / tungsten-trioxide (EG-WO3) was prepared by incorporating WO3 into EG by wet solution method. The materials were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analysis (BET), Infrared (IR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The EG-WO3 was fabricated into a photoanode and applied for the photoelectrochemical degradation of eosin yellow and methylene blue dyes as model of organic pollutants in water. The process was carried out at a current density of 5 mA cm-2 with Na2SO4 as supporting electrolyte. A significant decrease in the dyes concentrations were obtained at the EG-WO3 electrode compared with the pristine EG electrode. This shows that the WO3 nanoparticles in the EG-WO3 composite enhanced the degradation of the eosin yellow and methylene blue dyes. Thus, the EG-WO3 electrode is applicable for the photoelectrochemical oxidation of organic pollutants, specifically synthetic dyes in water...
Ph.D. (Chemistry)