Improved Photocatalytic Efficiency via Fenton-Enhanced Fe3O4- Graphene Derivatives - TiO2 Nanocomposites

This paper presents an extensive investigation into the synthesis and characterization of TiO 2 -Fe 3 O 4 nanocomposites incorporating graphene and reduced graphene oxide (rGO). Initially, graphene and rGO samples underwent thorough characterizations to explore the crystalline phases, structural and functional group analysis. Remarkably, graphene exhibited heightened crystallinity in contrast to rGO, attributed to its fewer functional groups. A sonochemical method was used to create nanocomposites of TiO 2 -Fe 3 O 4 -graphene derivatives. Thorough assessment, encompassing XRD, FT-IR, TEM, EDS, BET, UV-vis spectroscopy, and methylene blue (MB) degradation, vividly demonstrated that incorporating graphene into the nanocomposite amplified photocatalytic characteristics, minimized band gap, and augmented surface area. By varying variables, materials and investigating the reaction mechanism, efforts were focused on enhancing the photo efficiency of the nanocomposites. The Exploration further revealed that nano powders with a higher percentage of magnetite content exhibited superior photo activity. Examination of heat treatment temperatures (300°C and 60°C) indicated that the latter led to improved photo efficiency. Notably, incorporating a controlled amount of water and utilizing graphene instead of reduced graphene oxide contributed to an impressive photochemical activity of up to 92%. The nanocomposite's Fenton-photocatalytic synergy allows efficient pollutant degradation, aided by magnetic nanoparticle separation. The nanocomposite shows promise for degrading toxic pollutants, offering future wastewater treatment solutions.