Fabrication and characterization of SiO₂–graphene oxide and SiO₂–graphene oxide–activated carbon composites

This research presents the systematic creation and thorough analysis of binary SiO₂–graphene oxide (SiO₂–GO) and ternary SiO₂–graphene oxide–activated carbon (SiO₂–GO–AC) nanocomposites, focusing on optimized composition ratios for enhanced environmental adsorption applications. This work offers a comparative analysis of composition-specific structural development, surface shape, pore properties, and interfacial relations in binary and ternary nanocomposites, in contrast to earlier studies that concentrated on single composite structures. Through distinctive Si–O–Si, O–H, C O, and C–O functional groups, FTIR examination verified successful chemical integration, whilst XRD showed primarily amorphous formations with maintained graphene oxide and activated carbon properties. For the optimized SiO₂–GO (10:2 and 10:5) and SiO₂–GO–AC (1:2:1 and 1:1:2) compositions, FESEM showed uniform particle distribution and improved surface texture, suggesting better interfacial adaptability and accessible adsorption regions. According to BET examination, the SiO₂–GO (10:5) composite maintained a large surface area of 115.78 m² g⁻¹ with a well-formed Type IV mesoporous structure, while the SiO₂–GO (10:2) composite displayed a maximum surface area (127.03 m² g⁻¹). Although the (1:1:2) component offered improved micropore dominant for specific adsorption, the ternary SiO₂–GO–AC (1:2:1) composite showed a hierarchical micro-mesoporous network with significant adsorbate–adsorbent relationships. The optimized nanocomposites show great potential as effective adsorbents for microplastics, heavy metals, dyes, and other developing pollutants in sustainable wastewater treatment due to their better structural strength, porosity, and surface reactivity.