Polythiophene/Zinc Oxide/Graphene Oxide Ternary Photocatalyst: synthesis, characterization and application

ABSTRACT

In this study, polythiophene-zinc oxide-graphene oxide (PTh-ZnO-GO) nanocomposite photocatalysts have been successfully synthesized via a green method followed by in-situ chemical polymerization. The catalysts were characterized by Fourier transform infrared analysis, powder x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, Thermogravimetric analysis, four-point probe and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectrum. FT-IR bands confirmed the presence of PTh, ZnO and GO in the PTh-ZnO-GO nanocomposites. The PTh-ZnO-GO composites exhibit higher photocatalytic activities compared to pure ZnO and GO and also binary PTh-GO and ZnO-GO composite under irradiation and degradation ability of PTh-ZnO-GO is about 38 times higher than that pure component such as GO. Thermogravimetric analysis and electrical conductivity measurement also showed that degradation temperature improved about 20◦ C in ternary hybrids and electrical conductivity increased in the range of one order of magnitude. Therefore, PTh-ZnO-GO nanocomposite is a solar light-active photocatalyst which can be used in the degradation of organic pollutants.

KEYWORDS:

• Ternary hybrid nanocomposites
• Graphene Oxide
• zinc oxide
• photocatalyst efficiency
• photocatalysis

Acknowledgments

The research for this paper was financially supported by the Islamic Azad University, Shiraz Branch, Iran, through project entitled Preparation and study on the properties and photocatalytic efficacy of Polythiophene/Graphene-ZnO hybrids nanoparticles on water treatment (No 1639702010001).

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Notes on contributors

Mehdi Sharif

Mehdi Sharif is an associate Professor of polymer processing at the Islamic Azad University Shiraz Branch. After a PhD in Sahand University of Technology in 2016 he became assistant professor of polymer engineering at Islamic Azad University Shiraz Branch. His research is focused on synthesis, characterization and application of conductive polymer, hybrid nanostructure, graphene or its derivative and their applications in polymer blend or composite. Mehdi Sharif (born in Abadeh, Iran in 1983) received his undergraduate degree in Chemistry in 2005 at the Islamic Azad University shahreza Branch. He obtained his MS and PhD degree in 2008 and 2016 at the Sahand University of Technology, respectively. He performed his MS research in the field of polymer processing which included ternary polymer blend: processing and rheological properties under the supervision of Professor Mir Karim Razavi Aghjeh. He performed his PhD research in the field of negative photoresist filled by Graphene nanoparticles: preparation, characterization and lithography under the supervision of Professor Behzad Pourabbas. Mehdi Sharif started his career at Islamic Azad University Shiraz Branch in 2011 Department of polymer engineering. He is associated professor of polymer engineering and active in above research fields now.