Low Cost Graphene Oxide Modified Alumina Nanocomposite as Solar Light Induced\nPhotocatalyst

Abstract

A new wet chemical\nmethodology is introduced for high quality Al₂O₃ microflowers using aluminum foil as a cheaper\nprecursor for the first time and sodium dodecyl sulfate as template.\nThe gamma alumina (γ-Al₂O₃) is prepared\nwith excellent catalytic properties having small crystallite size\nwith decreased band gap in comparison to its bulk state. This can\nbe attributed to morphological planar defects like stepped surfaces\nin brick morphology. Such planar defects allow electronic transitions\nunder solar light in pure Al₂O₃. Moreover, a\nnovel heterojunction of Al₂O₃ and graphene oxide\n(GO) is developed as an efficient photocatalyst under solar light.\nWell incorporated GO sheets within the alumina matrix have been presented\nin SEM images of composites. The marvelous photocatalytic performance\nof 15.0% GO/Al₂O₃ hybrid is recorded under solar\nlight. The new composite material possesses the extended spectral\nresponse and exhibits reduce electron–hole pair recombination\nchances due to the incorporation of GO sheets. Furthermore, mechanism\nand kinetics of degradation are studied. The cost analysis is performed\nwhich shows that Al₂O₃ prepared by this method\nis 1000 times cheaper than available Al₂O₃ by\nSigma-Aldrich. This investigation leads to economic future development\nof effective Al₂O₃ based photoactive materials\nfor catalysis and other solar light induced energy applications.