Synthesis and characterization of rGO/CoSnO3 and rGO/NdSn2O7 nanocomposites for Photocatalytic application

Abstract

Reduced graphene oxide wrapped cobalt tin oxide and neodymium tin oxide nanocomposites synthesized via facile hydrothermal method. The synthesized rGO/CoSnO₃ and rGO/NdSn₂O₇ nanocomposites were characterized by various analytical techniques such as XRD, FT-IR, SEM, XPS and UV-DRS. The phase and crystalline size of GO, rGO, Co₃O₄, CoSnO_3, NdSn₂O_7, rGO/CoSnO₃ and rGO/NdSn₂O₇ are found to be 19.8, 27.6, 26.9, 37.3, 42.8, 40.5 and 46.2 nm respectively. The elemental composition and ionic state was examined by using XPS analysis. Surface texture and morphology were examined by using SEM which revealed that CoSnO₃ and NdSn₂O₇ agglomerated nanoparticles are uniformly distributed over the surface of rGO with a 2D sheet structure. The band gap was calculated using UV-DRS analysis and the Kubelka - Munk function plot scrutinized that band gap of rGO/CoSnO₃ and rGO/NdSn₂O₇ was found to be 2.7 and 2.5 eV. Herein, we have employed methylene blue dye for the photocatalytic degradation purpose using rGO/CoSnO₃ and rGO/NdSn₂O₇ nanocomposite and achieved up to 92% degradation property. This research outcome might be useful for reducing water pollution.