Functionalized nitrogen-enrich graphene as a highly efficient photocatalyst for oxidative cyclization of thioamide and degradation of Dye

•Easy to make graphene-based visible light active photocatalyst (NenG-RhB) via condensation.•The NenG-RhB photocatalyst appears to be a noteworthy development, demonstrating its efficiency in the degradation of industrial orange g in the presence of solar light as well as the oxidative cyclization of aromatic thioamide.•Its potential for useful applications in solar-driven catalysis and environmental remediation is shown by the remarkable degradation efficiency of 97.29 % for the industrial dye and a high conversion rate of 92.5 % for the cyclization. This may open the door to more eco-friendly and productive procedures across a range of sectors. Functionalized photocatalysts have shown to be an effective method for oxidative cyclization processes and the degradation of organic poisons like chemicals and dyes. In this study, we report the facile, environmentally friendly, room-temperature (RT) synthesis and development of a graphene-based visible light active photocatalyst (NenG-RhB) which is thermodynamically converted to nitrogen-enriched graphene (NenG) covalently bonded to a light-harvesting RhB molecule [9-(2-Carboxyphenyl)-6-(diethylamino)-N, N‑diethyl-3H-xanthen-3-iminium chloride)]. The NenG-RhB photocatalyst is extremely effective, resulting in good oxidative cyclization of aromatic thioamide (92.5 %) and degradation efficiency of industrial orange G (97.29 %) under solar light. The current research focuses on the invention and implementation of a nitrogen-enrich graphene-based photocatalyst for direct solar medicinal chemical synthesis and industrial dye degradation in wastewater using solar light.