Bifunctional electron conductive solid electrolyte and dye degrading photocatalyst from rGO-aminoalkane non-metallic origin

Abstract

Tunable proton conductivity (PrN), electron conduction behavior (EnN) and UV light harvesting photocatalytic dye degradation performance (PDD) of reduced graphene oxide-aminoalkane (aminoalkanes = aminomethane (AM), aminoethane (AE) aminopropane (AP) and 2-methylpropylamine (AMP)). The rGO-AMP exhibited high PrN, EnN, and optimized PDD. The PrN of rGO-AMP was ≈10−4–10−3 S cm−1, which is of almost equal order of that for pristine GO. The EnN was around 1.68 μA. The PDD measured for methylene blue (MtB), followed the trend as rGO-AMP > rGO-AE > rGO-AM > rGO-AP > rGO. The formation of chemical bonds between aminoalkane and rGO are confirmed from IR spectra. The conversion of sp3 carbon domains into electron conductive sp2 centres were confirmed from the Raman shifts. Thermal analysis confirms the optimum amount of water adsorption by rGO-AMP. XPS spectra confirm the doping of pyrrolic N atom in rGO. The maximum flexibility of interlayer distance (InD) in rGO-AMP was identified by PXRD analysis. The InD played vital role for proton conduction and PDD. N doping results in the opening of bandgap and generation of water adsorbing sites. All these facts rolled for dual electron-proton conduction and PDD activities. The composites imply enormous possibility of graphene-based non-metallic hybrid catalysts.