Combined influence of vanadium doping and rGO composite partnering on the photocatalytic ability of TiO2

•Effective dye decomposition by doping and composite partnering.•Degrading efficiency of 97 and 95% Eosin Yellow and Rhodamine-B, dyes respectively.•Bandgap reduction, enhance electron generation and recombination delay achieved. Nowadays, the presence of noxious organic azo dye molecules in the industrial effluents is a pervasive and significant global concern as it severely affects both human and ecological well-being. In this context, vanadium-doped titanium oxide/reduced graphene oxide (TiO2:V)/rGO nanocomposite was prepared using a soft-chemical method using Cassia fistula fruit pulp extract via green synthesis and its photocatalytic dye degradation ability was investigated against a cationic (Rhodamine-B (Rh-B)) and an anionic (Eosin Yellow (EY)) dye. The nanocomposite exhibits superior dye degrading efficiency of 95% and 97% for Rh-B and EY, respectively compared to TiO2, TiO2:V, and rGO. The structural, morphological and surface elemental composition results confirm the formation of the nanocomposite. This nanocomposite TiO2:V/rGO can be used as a heterojunction photocatalyst for cost-effective dye waste removal and commercial dye detoxification processes.