Synthesis of magnetic photocatalysts and investigation of their photocatalytic activities

In this study, zinc oxide (ZnO), iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles were deposited on rGO layers and rGO-ZnO-Fe3O4 and rGO-ZnO nanocomposites were synthesized and their photocatalytic activities were investigated. The obtained ZnO nanoparticles, rGO-ZnO and rGO-ZnO-Fe3O4 nanocomposite samples were analyzed by XRD (X-Ray Diffraction), UV-VIS (UV-VIS Spectrophotometer), The prepared samples were characterized by FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry) and SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) analyses. The performances of the prepared samples in the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) dyestuff under visible LED light were determined. The effects of reaction time and composite composition on photocatalytic activity were investigated. As a result, methylene blue (MB) removal by 3 hours of LED light treatment on the synthesized nanostructures was determined as 47.51% for pure ZnO nanoparticles, 74.47% for rGO-ZnO nanocomposite and 93.55% for rGO-Fe3O4-ZnO nanocomposite.