Facile synthesis of novel polypyrrole dispersed AgFeO2 nanohybrid with highly efficient photocatalytic activity towards 2,4,6-trichlorophenol degradation

With the aim to develop a visible light driven eco-friendly photocatalyst, the present work reports for the first time the synthesis of polypyrrole/AgFeO2 nanohybrids synthesized via in situ polymerization of pyrrole (by varying themol ratios) in AgFeO2 dispersions. The nanohybrids were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, ultra-violet visible near infrared (UV/VIS/NIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements. The TGA measurements confirmed 20%, 60%, and 80% loading of pyrrole in AgFeO2 and hence the nanohybrids were designated as 20%-Ppy/AgFeO2, 60%-Ppy/AgFeO2, 80%-Ppy/AgFeO2 respectively. IR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies confirmed polymerization of pyrrole and formation of the nanohybrids while XRD reflected high crystallinity of the nanohybrids. The photocatalytic activity of Ppy/AgFeO2 nanohybrids was investigated against 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) under sonophotocatalytic conditions using visible light irradiation. The nanohybrids were observed to completely degrade the organic pollutant within a short span of 40 min. The degradation kinetics fitted the pseudo-first order model. The fragments were analyzed using LCMS studies which revealed the formation of diols as degraded products. The nanohybrids revealed immense potential for rapid as well as eco-friendly destruction of organic pollutants in wastewater.