Exploring graphene and its derivatives for various applications: photocatalysis

There has been a significant concern in treating industrial wastewater for the removal of pollutants, organic and inorganic both. The degradation of contaminants is the most challenging part of the treatment, and thus, various methods are utilized and implemented for the same. But of all the processes, photocatalysis is the most effective and leads toward a greener degradation approach. Different elements exhibit the properties of semiconductors and thus make their way into the photocatalysis process. Carbon in its nanoform has gained much attention from all the conventional compounds used for photocatalysis. Graphene and its compounds, such as graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), possess versatile properties such as high surface area, good thermal stability, enhanced mechanical strength, chemical inertness, and biocompatibility which make them suitable for various applications that are spread in almost every field. Whether it be corrosion or friction resistance, in the medical field, or environmental application, graphene-based compounds have shown favorable results. When these nanomaterials are combined with conventional photocatalysts, they offer enhanced degradation of the pollutants present in the wastewater and modified rGO composites exhibits better results in terms of reduction in concentration and time during the photodegradation process. This review depicts the various preparation methods of graphene nano-photocatalyst with its applications and the multiple compounds combined with reduced graphene oxide. It also discusses the gaps and the applications with prospects.