The Effect of Different Morphologies of WO(3)/GO Nanocomposite on Photocatalytic Performance

Tungsten trioxide/graphene oxide (WO(3)/GO) nanocomposites have been successfully synthesized using in situ and ex situ chemical approaches. Graphite and tungsten carbide (WC) were employed to perform in situ synthesis, and WO(3) and GO were employed to perform the ex situ synthesis of WO(3)/GO nanocomposites. GO, which was required for ex situ synthesis, is synthesized via the modified and improved Hummers method. XRD, SEM/EDS, and FTIR are used for the characterization of the nanocomposite. From the XRD of the WO(3)/GO nanocomposites, it was observed that WO(3) distributed uniformly on graphene oxide sheets or was incorporated between the sheets. The photocatalytic activities of WO(3)/GO nanocomposites were evaluated by methylene blue (MB) adsorption and visible light photocatalytic degradation activities by UV-vis spectroscopy. The results showed that the efficiency of the photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposite depends on different synthesis methods and the morphology resulting from the changed method. WO(3)/GO nanocomposites synthesized by both methods exhibited much higher photocatalytic efficiencies than pure WO(3), and the best degradation efficiencies for MB was 96.30% for the WO(3)/GO in situ synthesis nanocomposite.