Modified graphene quantum dots-zinc oxide nanocomposites for photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes and commercial herbicide

The high crystallinity of graphene quantum dots-ZnO nanocomposites is considered to have a significant effect in improving the carrier lifetime for enhanced photocatalytic degradation. The graphene quantum dots-ZnO nanocomposites were synthesized by adding graphene quantum dots solution into starting precursors during the precipitation. Characterization was performed using various techniques. High crystallinity of graphene quantum dots-ZnO nanocomposites is obtained in terms of increased crystal size and decreased dislocation density. The improved crystallinity increases the carrier lifetime on the material surface for the functional improvement of photocatalytic material. Photocatalytic test of methylene blue and methyl orange was performed under UV irradiation. Degradation rate constant reaches the maximum value for both organic dyes for the appropriate preparing condition of graphene quantum dots-ZnO nanocomposites. The graphene quantum dots-ZnO nanocomposites were then applied to degrade commercial glyphosate herbicide contaminants for an agricultural wastewater treatment investigation. The investigation aims to demonstrate a facile useful way of herbicide contaminant reduction for the better health of farmers. The graphene quantum dots-ZnO nanocomposites show an enhancement of the photocatalytic process with improved degradation rate constant (23% increased) in comparison to pure ZnO. Therefore, this work demonstrates that graphene quantum dots-ZnO nanocomposites can be used as a photocatalytic material for degrading organic dyes and commercial herbicide contaminants owing to its low-cost and environmental-friendly properties.