Exploration of Graphene-Based Composite for Photo-Catalytic Degradation of Pollutant

The development of low-cost materials with high efficacy toward wastewater remediation is the challenge that the research community is facing nowadays. Various low-cost materials, such as graphene, hydrochar, biochar, activated carbon, and g-C3N4 are used as photocatalysts or supporting base materials. Recently, the exploration of individual graphene and graphene-supported composite to photo-catalytically degrade pollutants is of high interest to the research groups working in the field. Graphene offers ample adventitious properties such as greater charge moving capacity, enlarged exposed surface area, more tensile strength and most importantly ecofriendly nature. When evaluated for photocatalytic operations, all these properties are considered essential for a photocatalyst. The contribution of graphene derivatives as electron transition mediators due to their two-dimensional structure, improved high specific surface area, functional groups, cost-effectiveness and excellent electron-transport properties makes it a favorable co-catalyst to engineer two-dimensional enlarged contact interface with other compatible materials. Owing to its single-layered hexagonal structure and unique thermal, electrical and mechanical features, it has potential promising applications in the fields of energy storage, sensors, biomedical device coatings and to photo-catalytically degrade hazardous organic pollutants from textile, pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. The novel binary/ternary graphene-based photo-catalyst composites are yet being explored in order to photo-degrade a wide variety of organic target pollutants, oil spills and heavy toxic metals from the distinct industrial effluent.