Synthesis, characterization, morphology, and adsorption studies of ternary nanocomposite comprising graphene oxide, chitosan, and polypyrrole

The present work reports the synthesis of a ternary nanocomposite GO‐CS‐PPy comprising of graphene oxide (GO), chitosan (CS), and polypyrrole (PPy). The ternary nanocomposite GO‐CS‐PPy was characterized by a variety of techniques like Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray diffraction analysis (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis, and differential thermal analysis. The in situ synthesis of ternary nanocomposite GO‐CS‐PPy was carried out in the presence of catalytic FeCl3. The SEM and TEM analyses reveal a clear transformation of GO into the nanocomposite form where the characteristic sheet‐like structure of the former was crushed and converted into small pieces of nonuniform size. Similarly, in the XRD, the diagnostic peak of GO is also shifted appreciably employing successful synthesis of ternary nanocomposite GO‐CS‐PPy. The thermal stability of the ternary nanocomposite GO‐CS‐PPy was also found to be enhanced as compared to the pristine GO, CS, and PPy individually. The ternary nanocomposite GO‐CS‐PPy was used as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of a popular anionic dye Congo red as well as for the removal of heavy metal ions like Cu2+ and Cd2+ from water. In both cases, the ternary nanocomposite GO‐CS‐PPy was found to be very effective and can be commercialized in near future after further comprehensive studies. The SEM images showing the conversion of GO (left hand side) into GO‐CS‐PPy, ternary nanocomposite (right hand side).