Sustainable Sunlight and UV-Driven Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue by Employing Cellulose/GO/TiO2–Bi Composite Material

Abstract

In this work, cellulose was isolated from the waste leaves of the Butia monosperma plant was tailored into cellulose/GO/TiO₂–Bi material via green and one-step method for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) under the natural sunlight and UV light. The encroachment of TiO₂–Bi within the cellulose matrix with someway decrement of agglomeration was examined by SEM analysis. The XRD and FTIR analysis suggested the interaction of cellulose, graphene oxide (GO), and TiO₂–Bi, resulting in the formation of secondary bonding such as hydrogen bonds, and van der Waal bonds. The results suggested that the cellulose backbone has compatibility to anchor the GO and TiO₂–Bi onto the surface; hence, they perform with synergetic approaches for degradation of MB. DRS and PL analysis infers to the synergetic interaction among GO and TiO₂–Bi and the role of graphene oxide in photocatalytic performance of fabricated cellulose-based semiconductor. The photocatalytic activity of cellulose/GO/TiO₂–Bi composite is discussed in form of charge transfer and electron/hole recombination stoppage by the synergetic effect of GO and TiO₂–Bi anchored within cellulose backbone. The cellulose/GO/TiO₂–Bi composite displayed noteworthy photocatalytic performance for the degradation of MB under solar light and UV light. This work will underpin the extension of research areas where the biotemplate-based promising materials are synthesized for photocatalytic applications.