Heterogenized Cu(II) complex of 5-aminotetrazole immobilized on graphene oxide nanosheets as an efficient catalyst for treating environmental contaminants

[Display omitted] •Facile synthesis of N-heterocyclic copper(II) complex onto graphene oxide nanosheets.•Characterization of the catalyst by FESEM, TEM, HRTEM, STEM, TG-DTG, FTIR, XRD, and EDS analyses.•Catalytic performance of GONS-aminotet-Cu(II) in the reduction of 4-NP, RhB, CR, MB and NS.•Catalyst can be reused six times without any notable loss of catalytic performance. This study focuses on the synthesis of an exclusive and extremely effective heterogeneous nanocatalyst via the decoration of copper(II) complex bearing 5-aminotetrazole ligand onto graphene oxide nanosheets (GONS) surface the carboxylic groups of which have been activated by thionyl chloride (SOCl2). The structural features of this catalyst (GONS-aminotet-Cu(II)) were investigated by FESEM, TEM, HRTEM, STEM, TG-DTG, FTIR, XRD, and EDS. The catalytic prowess of the GONS-aminotet-Cu(II) nanocatalyst was evaluated in the 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), Rhodamine B (RhB), methylene blue (MB), nigrosin (NS) and congo red (CR) reduction with NaBH4. The surface nature of GONS changed after immobilization of the complex, causing a notable increase in the catalytic prowess. The results displayed that the nanocatalyst can be reused six successive times, demonstrating high recyclability and excellent chemical stability.