Microwave-assisted synthesis of reduced graphene oxide/V₂O₅ nano-composite as an efficient photocatalyst for dye degradation

In the present study, rapid and green microwave synthesis has been used to synthesize V₂O₅ and reduced graphene oxide decorated with V₂O₅, a hybrid nanocomposite (rGO/V₂O₅ ), using an inorganic precursor. The synthesized nanocomposite is characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and UV–visible spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of V₂O₅ and rGO/V₂O₅ was studied by degrading methylene blue dye in sunlight. The kinetics of the dye degradation is studied by calculating the rate constant and the half- life of the degradation process. The rGO/V₂O₅ nanocomposite showed low resistance, thus increasing the diffusion of electrons, which prevents electron–hole recombination and hence enhances photocatalytic activity (80% degradation efficiency) when compared with bare V₂O₅. (author)