Construction of novel n-type semiconductor anchor on 2D honey comb like FeNbO4/RGO for visible light drive photocatalytic degradation of Norfloxacin

Abstract A novel FeNbO4/RGO photocatalyst was prepared via hydrothermal method followed by ultrasonication for the environmental remediation. The obtained samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) and mott-schottky (M-S) plot. It was indicated that the monoclinic FeNbO4 was anchored on reduced graphene oxide nanosheet (RGO) which enhances visible-light absorption. The prepared hybrid samples exhibited the obvious improvement of photocatalytic activity and stability for norfloxacin (NRF) degradation under visible light irradiation 250 W Xe lamp as source with 420 nm UV- cut off filter. A Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to identify the major intermediates during NRF degradation. The photocatalytic efficiency for FeNbO4/RGO was about 87% and its rate constant value was greater than bare FeNbO4.