@article { author = {Mzoughi, M. and W. Anku, William. and O. B. Oppong, Samuel and K. Shukla, Sudheesh and S. Agorku, Eric and P. Govender, Penny}, title = {Neodymium Doped ZrO2-graphene Oxide Nanocomposites: A Promising Photocatalyst For Photodegradation Of Eosin Y Dye}, journal = {Advanced Materials Letters}, volume = {7}, number = {12}, pages = {946-950}, year = {2016}, publisher = {International Association of Advanced Materials}, issn = {0976-3961}, eissn = {0976-397X}, doi = {10.5185/amlett.2016.6497}, abstract = {Purification of industrial wastewater from dyes receiving increasing attentions. The aim of the present manuscript was to fabricate graphene based nanocomposites using a homogeneous and facile approach. Co-precipitation method was used to synthesize zirconium oxide (ZrO2) and neodymium doped ZrO2-graphene oxide (Nd-ZrO2-GO) nanocomposites with varying weight percent concentrations of neodymium to investigate the increasing photocatalytic activity. The Nd-ZrO2-GO catalysts were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (SEM), and ultra violet-visible (UV-vis)-spectroscopy to evaluate their optical, morphological and structural properties respectively. The photocatalytic degradation potential of the nanocatalyst was assessed by the degradation of Eosin Y dye in aqueous solution under simulated solar light irradiation. The Nd-ZrO2-GO was observed to have higher photocatalytic degradation potential than the bare ZrO2. The most efficient photocatalyst for the degradation of Eosin Y dye was 0.3 % Nd-ZrO2-GO with about 80 % efficiency within 180 min and a Ka value of 4.19 x 10 -3 . Nd-ZrO2-GO catalyst would be considered as efficient photocatalyst to degrade the industrial dyes (Eosin Y) avoiding the dreary filtration steps.}, keywords = {photocatalysis,Polymer,metal nanocomposites,Graphene Oxide,eosin Y,dye degradation,photodegradation}, url = {https://aml.iaamonline.org/article_14791.html}, eprint = {https://aml.iaamonline.org/article_14791_cccc67ab5c8b2de92a4ade908eadf751.pdf} }