Facile synthesis of rGO-Ag and rGO-Au nanocomposites and their applications in biosensors and enhanced photocatalytic properties

Abstract

Developing nanocatalysts with high sensitivity for the electrochemical detection of p-nitrophenol remains a challenge due to the limited electrochemical reactivity of organic compounds. In this study, reduced graphene oxide-silver (rGO-Ag) and reduced graphene oxide-gold (rGO-Au) nanocomposites were synthesized via a hydrothermal approach. Cyclic voltammetry revealed that both nanocomposites exhibited superior electrochemical sensing capabilities for p-nitrophenol, showing significantly higher currents compared to bare rGO. Additionally, the Au-rGO nanocomposite demonstrated exceptional photocatalytic efficiency, achieving 92.59 % degradation of tetracycline markedly outperforming both bare rGO and Ag-rGO. Recycling and scavenging tests confirmed the stability of the Au-rGO catalyst and identified the major active radicals involved in the degradation process. These findings highlight the bifunctional nature of the developed nanocomposites, showcasing their potential for applications in electrochemical sensing and photocatalysis.