Applied Surface Science, Vol.470, 114-128, 2019
Crumpled sheet like graphene based WO3-Fe2O3 nanocomposites for enhanced charge transfer and solar photocatalysts for environmental remediation
The combination of two or more metal oxides onto graphene sheets with even distribution is projected to en- hanced charge transfer properties in photocatalytic applications. We report, tungsten oxide (WO3) with iron oxide (Fe2O3) nanoparticles grown on graphene sheets via a facile economical one pot hydrothermal method and consequently characterized by standard analytical techniques. Synthesized Fe2O3 with WO3 nanoparticles were well ornamented on surface of the graphene sheets which have a significant charge transfer properties. The resulting hybrid WO3-Fe2O3-rGO (WFG) nanocomposites showed enhanced photocatalytic, heavy metal removal and antibacterial activities. The superior photocatalytic removal efficiencies were observed for the removal of rhodamine B (similar to 94%) and methylene blue dyes (similar to 98%) under solar light irradiation. The antibacterial activity of WFG nanocomposites were performed against Escherichia coil (E.coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus) as models for Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The outcome of the results have an intellectual effect on the use of WFG nanocomposites to address the upcoming energy and environment issues.