Nitrogen-doped graphene and iron oxide nanoparticles for photocatalytic degradation

Background

The environmental pollution of organic dyes in wastewater has become a serious global challenge which needs innovative and efficient remediation strategies. An efficient but sustainable approach for tackling Wastewater treatment is through Photocatalysis, utilizing highly catalytic materials. The objective of this study is to develop a nitrogen-doped graphene and iron oxide nanocomposite photocatalyst as a powerful organic dye degrading photocatalyst.

Methods

The nitrogen-doped graphene and iron oxide nanocomposite was synthesized through a multi-step process. Nitrogen-doped graphene was prepared by electrochemical exfoliation of graphite followed by nitrogen incorporation through high-temperature annealing. Iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using a co-precipitation method with ferric and ferrous chloride precursors. The nanocomposite was fabricated via ultrasonic dispersion of nitrogen-doped graphene and iron oxide in deionized water to ensure uniform distribution. Structural and morphological properties were characterized using XRD, SEM, and FTIR. Photocatalytic activity was evaluated by monitoring the degradation of methylene blue dye under UV light, with degradation tracked spectrophotometrically at 664 nm and catalyst dosages optimized for maximum efficiency.

Significant findings

The resulting nanocomposite degraded MB by 94.5 % in 60 min, vastly better than pristine graphene 58 % and iron oxide nanoparticles 28 % under similar conditions. The synergistic doping of nitrogen and the integration of iron oxide are found to enhance photocatalytic activity by improving light absorption, facilitating charge separation, and generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). These results suggest that the nitrogen-doped graphene and iron oxide nanocomposite may serve as a scalable, sustainable approach to wastewater treatment and present a major advance in environmental remediation technologies.