New light on the photocatalytic performance of NH4V4O10 and its composite with rGO

M Nadolska; M Szkoda; K Trzciński; J Ryl; A Lewkowicz; K Sadowska; J Smalc-Koziorowska; M Prześniak-Welenc

doi:10.1038/s41598-023-31130-9

New light on the photocatalytic performance of NH₄V₄O₁₀ and its composite with rGO

Sci Rep. 2023 Mar 9;13(1):3946. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-31130-9.

Authors

M Nadolska¹, M Szkoda², K Trzciński², J Ryl¹, A Lewkowicz³, K Sadowska⁴, J Smalc-Koziorowska⁵, M Prześniak-Welenc⁶

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Nanotechnology and Materials Engineering, and Advanced Materials Centre, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233, Gdansk, Poland.
² Faculty of Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza St. 11/12, 80-233, Gdansk, Poland.
³ Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 57, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland.
⁴ Nalecz Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences, Ks Trojdena 4, 02-109, Warsaw, Poland.
⁵ Institute of High Pressure Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sokołowska 29/37, 01-142, Warsaw, Poland.
⁶ Institute of Nanotechnology and Materials Engineering, and Advanced Materials Centre, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233, Gdansk, Poland. marta.welenc@pg.edu.pl.

Abstract

Solar-driven photocatalysis has shown great potential as a sustainable wastewater treatment technology that utilizes clean solar energy for pollutant degradation. Consequently, much attention is being paid to the development of new, efficient and low-cost photocatalyst materials. In this study, we report the photocatalytic activity of NH₄V₄O₁₀ (NVO) and its composite with rGO (NVO/rGO). Samples were synthesized via a facile one-pot hydrothermal method and successfully characterized using XRD, FTIR, Raman, XPS, XAS, TG-MS, SEM, TEM, N₂ adsorption, PL and UV‒vis DRS. The results indicate that the obtained NVO and NVO/rGO photocatalysts exhibited efficient absorption in the visible wavelength region, a high content of V⁴⁺ surface species and a well-developed surface area. Such features resulted in excellent performance in methylene blue photodegradation under simulated solar light illumination. In addition, the composite of NH₄V₄O₁₀ with rGO accelerates the photooxidation of the dye and is beneficial for photocatalyst reusability. Moreover, it was shown that the NVO/rGO composite can be successfully used not only for the photooxidation of organic pollution but also for the photoreduction of inorganic pollutants such as Cr(VI). Finally, an active species trapping experiment was conducted, and the photodegradation mechanism was discussed.

Abstract

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