Synergistic effects in PPS/PVA/Fe3O4/Ag NPs nanocomposites for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue

Abstract

This study investigates the synthesis and application of PPS/PVA/Fe₃O₄/AgNPs nanocomposites for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light. The nanocomposite was synthesized through a co-precipitation method combining polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), iron oxide (Fe₃O₄), and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Structural analysis confirmed the successful formation of the nanocomposite with enhanced surface area, porosity, and stability. The photocatalytic performance was evaluated by monitoring the degradation of MB, showing that the PPS/PVA/Fe₃O₄/AgNPs nanocomposite achieved an 83% degradation rate within 120 min of visible light exposure. Kinetic studies indicated that the degradation followed a pseudo-first-order model, with the highest apparent rate constant (90 × 10⁻⁴ min⁻¹) observed for the nanocomposite. Additionally, the total organic carbon (TOC) analysis demonstrated substantial mineralization of MB, with the concentration decreasing from 10 to 1.9 mg/L. The enhanced photocatalytic activity is attributed to the synergistic effects of the nanocomposite, including improved light absorption, reduced electron-hole recombination, and increased active sites for redox reactions. Reusability tests confirmed the durability of the nanocomposite, with only a slight decrease in efficiency (5%) after four cycles. This study highlights the potential of PPS/PVA/Fe₃O₄/AgNPs nanocomposites as effective photocatalysts for environmental remediation, particularly in the treatment of dye-contaminated water.