Fe2O3/RGO nanocomposite photocatalyst: Effective degradation of 4-Nitrophenol

Highlights: • Fe2O3/RGO nanocomposite was synthesized by hydrothermal route. • This composite was degraded completely 4-Nitrophenol (4-NP). • Fe2O3/RGO nanocomposite, as good photocatalyst for degradation of 4-NP. • H2O2 plays a key role in photocatalysis. -- Abstract: We synthesized Fe₂O₃/RGO nanocomposite (NC) via simple and green hydrothermal method. The structure, morphology and thermal stability of prepared NC was studied using XRD, FESEM, EDS, TGA, FTIR and UV-DRS. As-synthesized NC was tested for photocatalytic activity by the degradation of model organic pollutant, 4-Nitrophenol (4-NP) under visible light irradiation. The effect of pH and H₂O₂ were studied on photocatalytic degradation of 4-NP by Fe₂O₃/RGO NC. This NC as benign photocatalyst for completely degraded 4-NP in 50 min. We stated that H₂O₂ played a key role in photocatalytic degradation of dye pollutant under visible light irradiation with the help of composite which was prepared by hydrothermal route. However H₂O₂ acts as promising oxidant due to its high efficiency, low cost and produce harmless co-additives. Moreover H₂O₂ can serve as electron scavengers and generates the hydroxyl radicals.