Preparation of ZnO-GO nanocomposites and their properties

Abstract

ZnO nanoparticles were prepared by hydrothermal method. The modified Hummer process was then used to prepare go. The ZnO-GO com posites were then mixed to produce different ratios of ZnO-GO, characteris ed and their photocatalytic properties were investigated using rhodamine B as the target degradation species. The results showed that the degradation r ates of rhodamine B were 41.96% and 84.42% for the nano-ZnO and ZnO-GO 7% composites, respectively, when illuminated with xenon light for 36 0 min. The improved photocatalytic activity of composite materials is prim arily due to the introduction of appropriate amount of GO, which could ra pidly capture and transfer to the photogenerated electrons, and could load more ZnO and prevent the agglomeration of ZnO particles, increasing the s pecific surface area of ZnO and its activation point, as well as increasing th e adsorption of pollutants on the ZnO surface and improving the photocatal ytic efficiency.