Open AccessA New Insight of Graphene oxide-Fe(III) Complex Photochemical Behaviors under Visible Light Irradiation
Author(s) -
Renlan Liu,
Xiaoying Zhu,
Baoliang Chen
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
scientific reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.24
H-Index - 213
ISSN - 2045-2322
DOI - 10.1038/srep40711
Subject(s) - graphene , oxide , aqueous solution , photochemistry , visible spectrum , chemistry , metal ions in aqueous solution , adsorption , decarboxylation , photocatalysis , chromium , irradiation , metal , catalysis , materials science , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , physics , optoelectronics , nuclear physics
Graphene oxide (GO) contains not only aromatic carbon lattice but also carboxyl groups which enhanced the aqueous solubility of GO. To study the transformation of GO nanosheets in natural environments, GO aqueous dispersion was mixed with Fe 3+ ions to form photoactive complex. Under visible light irradiation, Fe(III) of the complex would be reduced to Fe(II) which could subsequently reduce highly toxic Cr(VI) to Cr 3+ . The electron of the reduction was contributed by the decarboxylation of carboxyl groups on GO and iron was acting as a catalyst during the photoreduction. On the other hand, the consumption of carboxyl groups may convert GO to rGO which are tend to aggregate since the decreased electrostatic repulsion and the increased π-π attraction. The formed Cr 3+ may be electrostatically adsorbed by the rGO sheets and simultaneously precipitated with the aggregated rGO sheets, resulting the effective removal of chromium and GO nanosheets from the aqueous environment. This study may shed a light on understanding the environmental transformation of GO and guide the treatment of Cr(VI).