Engineering of hybrid nanostructured boron-rGO-VO2(B) catalysts for organic pollutant degradation

Abstract

The establishment of catalysts for organic pollutant degradation is essential for advancing wastewater remediation techniques. In this study, a combination of 2D layered reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and 1D vanadium dioxide (VO₂) nanorods (rGV) was developed using a hydrothermal method for the degradation of methyl orange (MO). To improve the sonocatalytic pollutant degradation activity of rGV, boron was incorporated into the rGV composites (BrGV). The structural formation and modification of rGV after the inclusion of boron were successfully verified through systematic characterization techniques, which confirmed the presence of VO₂ and the modification of the electronic structure of the rGV by boron. Microscopy analysis confirmed the excellent formation of rGO sheets with VO₂ nanorods in the BrGV nanostructure. The BrGV-2 nanocomposite exhibited excellent sonocatalytic activity, achieving 91.66% degradation of MO in 60 minutes. Optimal catalytic performance was observed at a BrGV-2 concentration of 0.4 g L⁻¹ at pH 6. Mechanistic studies revealed that superoxide radical anions and hydroxyl radicals were the primary reactive species involved in the sonocatalytic degradation of MO. Furthermore, the catalyst showed stability during repeated cycling, emphasizing its potential for reuse in pollutant degradation, thereby contributing to the fields of advanced nanocomposite materials and environmental science.