α-Fe(2)O(3)/graphene oxide powder and thin film nanocomposites as peculiar photocatalysts for dye removal from wastewater

In this study, hematite graphene oxide (αFe(2)O(3)-GO) powder nanocomposites and thin-film hematite graphene oxide (αFe(2)O(3)-GO) were synthesized for application in the removal of Rhodamine B (RhB) from textile wastewater. αFe(2)O(3)-GO nanomaterials were placed onto the FTO substrate to form a thin layer of nanocomposites. Different analysis including XRD, FTIR, Raman spectra, XPS, and FESEM were done to analyze the morphology, structure, and properties of the synthesized composites as well as the chemical interactions of αFe(2)O(3) with GO. The photocatalytic performance of two synthesized composites was compared with different concentrations of αFe(2)O(3)-GO. The results showed that powder nanocomposites are more effective than thin-film composites for the removal of RhB dye. αFe(2)O(3)-GO-5% powder nanocomposites removed over 64% of dye while thin-film nanocomposites had less removal efficiencies with just under 47% removal rate. The reusability test was done for both materials in which αFe(2)O(3)-GO-5% powder nanocomposites removed a higher rate of dye (up to 63%) in more cycles (6 cycles).