Sonochemical assisted auto-combustion synthesis of NiCo2O4/NiO/rGO nanocomposite and examination of photocatalytic ability for antibiotics photo-degradation

Abstract

In this research, an attempt was made to synthesize an efficient nanocomposite for photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics. NiCo₂O₄/NiO/rGO nanocomposite was synthesized with auto-combustion method. Various parameter affected of NiCo₂O₄/NiO/rGO morphology like type of green fuel, molar ratio of green fuel. Morphology, shape size, and surface strongly affect the optical, electrochemical, catalytic, and magnetic properties of oxide form of nanostructured materials. According to the Taouk equation, NiCo₂O₄/NiO/rGO nanocomposite possess a suitable bandgap (2.8 eV) in the visible region. Ability of NiCo₂O₄/NiO/rGO nanocomposite for antibiotics elimination was surveyed. Photocatalytic experiments results exposed that prepared nanocomposite could a wide range of pollution efficiency. For example, the tetracycline elimination efficiency was 92.9 %. The conceivable mechanism of antibiotic degradation by photocatalytic performance was studied and it is concluded that OH• helps visible light-assisted elimination of contamination. Also, the probable reaction constant rate (k) of the pollutant was determined by the Langmuir–Hinshelwood reaction, showing that the rate constant for the photocatalytic application was achieved in a k = 0.01310 min⁻¹.