Synergistic catalytic degradation of crystal violet dye using silicon and titanium oxide/graphene nanocomposites

Abstract

This study highlights the synthesis of Titanium dioxide (TiO₂), Silicon dioxide (SiO₂), and their composites with graphene oxide (GO) through sol-gel method. The photocatalytic activities of these materials were evaluated by measuring the adsorption and degradation of methyl violet dye under various experimental conditions like adsorbate concentration, pH, and contact time. Characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-rays (SEM-EDX), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and zeta potential were employed to examine structural and surface properties of the synthesized materials. The catalytic process was modelled using pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and Elovich kinetic models. The results demonstrated that SiO₂/GO composite exhibited highest degradation efficiency, followed closely by TiO₂/GO. This research underscores the potential of graphene composites in improving the photocatalytic degradation of hazardous dyes, offering a promising approach for environmental cleanup.