Facile synthesis of GO/ZnO–Ag nanocomposite and evaluation of rhodamine B dye under sun light

Graphene oxide (GO) composite photocatalysts are prepared by a combined impregnation chemical reduction method. GO composite used as a photo catalyst for the removal of organic pollutants and water purification system, it is due to the high surface area to volume ratio of redox potential of GO. The synthesised GO was nanocomposite with ZnO and Ag NPs by sol–gel method and developed as nanocatalysts. Band gap of GO nanocomposite was characterized by UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The XRD analysis also confirms the presence of Ag NPs of GO/ZnO–Ag nanocomposite. The GO/ZnO–Ag nanocomposite was used in the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) dye under direct sunlight measured by UV–visible spectroscopy. The Ag NPs uniformly surface covers the surface of GO/ZnO nanocomposite result demonstrates the exceedingly improved the photocatalytic action. The superior photocatalytic activity of RhB dye degradation efficiency of 94 % was achieved. The presence of Ag NPs–GO/ZnO nanocomposite shows increasing photocatalytic activity due to its surface plasma resonance behaviour.