One-pot solvothermal synthesis of ZnTe/RGO nanocomposites and enhanced visible-light photocatalysis

Zinc telluride/reduced graphene oxide(ZnTe/RGO) nanocomposites are synthesized by a one-pot, facile,solvothermal process using hydrazine hydrate as the reducing agent. Hydrazine hydrate not only promoted the formation of ZnTe nanoparticles but also reduced GO to RGO. The formation of ZnTe/RGO is demonstrated by different techniques. In addition, the experimental results suggest a possible formation mechanism of these nanocomposites. Finally, due to the transfer of the photo-generated electrons between ZnTe and RGO resulting in low electrons/holes recombination, the as-prepared nanocomposites of ZnTe/RGO exhibited strongly enhanced photocatalytic activity for the bleaching of methyl blue(MB)dye under visible light irradiation.