Effect of rGO support on Gd@ZnO for UV–visible-light driven photocatalytic organic pollutant degradation

In this manuscript, we report the hydrothermally prepared rGO/Gd@ZnO nanocomposite for the utilization of photocatalytic Rh B (rhodamine B) dye degradation. The required characterization techniques were carried out to analyse the structural, morphological, chemical, environmental and optical behaviour of the prepared nanoparticles. Photocatalytic efficiency of the prepared nanoparticles was studied by Rh B dye degradation upon UV–Vis-light illumination which reveals that composite catalyst degrades the dye molecule about 91% after 40 min of irradiation. On comparing the higher degradation efficiency of the rGO/Gd@ZnO nanocomposite with that of ZnO and Gd doped ZnO, it reveals a greater reduction of charge carriers’ recombination, higher visible-light utilization and higher adsorption efficiency. Elemental trapping experiment and recycling test were conducted to study the influence of active radicals for the degradation reaction and to know the stability of the prepared nanocomposite, respectively. Hence, this rGO supported Gd doped ZnO nanocomposite can provide a new path way in preparing a highly efficient photocatalyst for organic pollutant degradation at large.