Microwave‐mediated One‐step Synthesis of CeVO4‐rGO Composites with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity under Visible Light

CeVO4‐rGO nanocomposites with varying proportions of CeVO4: rGO (10, 20 and 30 wt% CeVO4) were synthesized by a rapid microwave hydrothermal method. The prepared samples were characterized by X‐ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning/transmission electron microscopy (SEM/TEM), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV‐visible spectroscopy to evaluate their structural, morphological and optical properties respectively. Lowering band gaps of CeVO4‐rGO composites (∼2.15 eV) made the sample active for photodegradation of Bromophenol blue (BRB) and Eosin Yellow (EY) dyes under visible light. Among all, the sample with 20 wt% CeVO4 was the most efficient and almost complete degradation of EY (60 mg/L) was achieved within 60 min with a catalyst dose of 0.4 g/L. In comparison, 91.6 % of BRB dye (20 mg/L) was degraded in 105 min. Recyclability study up to the fourth cycle showed that the composites are fairly stable for reuse. A series of CeVO4‐rGO nanocomposites with varying CeVO4 wt % were synthesised by a fast and facile microwave‐hydrothermal route. CeVO4‐rGO nanocomposites showed enhanced photocatalytic activity for degradation of dyes under visible light than the bare CeVO4 or rGO. Electrochemical studies supported the major role of photogenerated O2⋅− species in the degradation of dyes.