Electrochemical aspects of photocatalysis: Au@FeS2 nanocomposite for removal of industrial pollutant†
Abstract
A wide range of endeavors have been dedicated to building up an impetus in the field of catalysis to enhance the removal of toxic contaminants from water. This study characterizes an efficient photocatalyst for water treatment technique. Herein, the synthesis of a photocatalyst Au@FeS2 for the degradation of textile dye NOVACRON Red Huntsman (NRH) has been demonstrated. Photocatalysis under visible light with varying concentrations of catalyst have been explored along with the degradation kinetics to determine the synergistic impact on degradation technique. The Au@FeS2 exhibits excellent photocatalytic activity and good reusability under visible light irradiation. The efficiency of Au@FeS2 (1 g L−1) in the degradation of the textile dye NRH (1 mg L−1) is found to be 96.02% in just 60 minutes, which is considerably higher than that of FeS2 (1 g L−1) (95.63% in 120 minutes). The electrochemical performance also supports the enhanced photocatalytic activity of Au@FeS2. The photocatalytic and electrochemical activity of Au@FeS2 offers an innovative platform for environmental remediation applications.