Synthesis of RGO/Sio2 and RGO/Sio2/Fe3O4: Investigating its Structural, Magnetic Properties and Photocatalytic Activity on Methyl Orange Degradation

In this study, at first, reduced graphene oxide (RGO) has been synthesized by Hummers’ method and then RGO/SiO2 binary compound and finally RGO/SiO2/Fe3O4 ternary compound were synthesized by co-precipitation method. Magnetic properties of nanoparticles were investigated by VSM and their morphology was studied by SEM. Crystalline structure and functional groups and bonds analyzed by XRD and FTIR, respectively. The size of nanoparticles of iron-oxide, reduced graphene oxide/silicon dioxide, and iron-oxide/reduced graphene oxide/silicon-dioxide was respectively estimated as 11.9, 10.44, and 11.17 nm. Saturation magnetization of iron-oxide and ternary nanocomposite are obtained as 72 emu/g and 31.2 emu/g respectively that shows that by covering iron-oxide nanoparticles with non-magnetic materials, the obtained saturation magnetization decreases. Photocatalytic activity of the synthesized RGO/SiO2/Fe3O4 was evaluated in the degradation of methyl orange dye (MO) as a pollutant under irradiation of ultraviolet light. Photocatalytic efficiency 51.59% was obtained. RGO/SiO2/Fe3O4 composite with capable of photocatalytic activity with efficiency of 51.59 % , was evaluated as a pollutant in the degradation of methyl orange (MO).