RGO/Cu2O-CuO nanocomposite as a visible-light assisted photocatalyst for reduction of organic nitro groups to amines

Abstract Here, we developed a copper oxide based photocatalyst for the reducing nitrobenzenes to the aminobenzenes using hydrazine monohydrate in the presence of visible light. Reduction of a mixture of Cu (II) and graphene oxide (GO) with NaBH4.H2O leads to the formation of a photocatalyst (rGO/Cu2O-CuO) in which reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets coupled with Cu2O and CuO nanoparticles. The prepared photocatalyst and its photoactivity were identified and studied using FTIR, Raman, XRD, XPS, FESEM, TEM, EDAX, DRS, BET, EIS and PL technique. The catalyst is used for the reduction of nitrobenzenes to corresponding aminobenzenes by use of hydrazine monohydrate under the 30 W visible light radiation. The photocatalyst was recovered and reused seven times and no significant change in efficiency was observed. 1 Introduction