A facile strategy to fabricate ternary WO3/CuO/rGO nano-composite for the enhanced photocatalytic degradation of multiple organic pollutants and antimicrobial activity

A facile strategy comprising co-precipitation and ultra-sonication methods was used to fabricate WO3/CuO and WO3/CuO/rGO nanocomposites. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical, and electrochemical measurements were used for the structural, morphological, and electrical analysis of as-synthesized materials. The photocatalytic performance of synthesized materials was explored for the degradation of methylene blue (MB), Rhodamine B (RhB) and benzoic acid. The percentage degradation of MB in presence of CuO, WO3, WO3/CuO, and WO3/CuO/rGO was 56.7%, 75.1%, 86.5%, and 95.5%, respectively, within 90 min of UV-Visible light irradiation. For RhB, the percentage degradation in presence of CuO, WO3, WO3/CuO, and WO3/CuO/rGO was found to be 54.5%, 73.4%, 82.5%, and 93.1%, respectively. For benzoic acid, the percentage degradation was recorded as 35.1%, 77.3%, 84%, and 91.8% for CuO, WO3, WO3/CuO, and WO3/CuO/rGO, respectively. Evidently, during each experiment WO3/CuO/rGO showed highest capability to photodegrade the pollutants due to the generation of heterojunction interface among individual constituents. When applied for antibacterial activity, WO3/CuO/rGO showed 1.7 and 2 mm of zones of inhibition against S. Aureus and K. Pneumonia, respectively. Consequently, it can be anticipated that WO3/CuO/rGO could be used as multifunctional photocatalyst for the treatment of different environmental pollutants. [Display omitted] •A facile route was adopted for the development of WO3/CuO/rGO nano-heterojunctions.•WO3/CuO/rGO was applied for the photodegradation of RhB, MB and benzoic acid .•Antimicrobial activity of WO3/CuO/rGO was studied against S. Aureus and K. Pneumonia.•Development of nano-heterojunctions improved overall response of WO3/CuO/rGO nanocomposite.