Influence of non-metal dopants (O, S, N) and dimension of carbon nano materials on the fluorescence and photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants

R, Usha ; R, Fairlin Jenitha ; S, Sudhaparimala

Abstract

The usage of sanitizers and disinfectants results in the dumping of toxic organic residues in water. There is a global need for effective agents which can adsorb and degrade hazardous chemicals effectively and convert into much safer constituents. In this study, the influence of non-metal dopants (O, S, N) and dimensionality on the catalytic ability of carbon nanomaterials (CNs) such as 0-D (Nitrogen-doped Carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) synthesized from the seed kernel of Caesalpinia bonducella) and 2-D (Graphene oxide (GO), Sulphur doped graphene oxide (S-GO), Nitrogen-doped graphene oxide (N-GO) synthesized from glucose) have been compared and correlated. The microstructure, surface morphology, elemental composition, fluorescence emission and catalytic ability of the 0-D and 2-D materials are determined and compared. The defect density and the sub defect band gap states influenced by different electronegative non-metal dopants and the dimensions are discussed. The Micro strain increases with increases in dimension. The percentage of Nitrogen as dopant in N-GO is relatively less compared with N-CQDs which led to less fluorescence intensity observed in N-GO. On comparison of the results, it is evident that greater electro negativity of the dopants and reduction in dimension will increase the photo catalytic activity. Also, in comparison with 2-D structures, the large surface area and greater quantum confinement of 0-D structure enhance the degradation of organic pollutants. This observation is well correlated with PL emission intensities of the compared CNs. The results provide a better correlation between dimensionality and functionality of CNs and their impact on catalytic (adsorption and photo) applications in experimentally possible ways.

Keyword(s)

Adsorption; Catalyst; Chlorophenols; Organic dyes; Fluorescence; Graphene; Graphene oxide; Hydrothermal; Nitrogen doped Carbon quantum dots; Nitrogen doped graphene oxide; Sulphur doped graphene oxide

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