Molecular Engineering of Molybdenum Cyanide Photoadduct with rGO for Enhanced Visible Light Driven Photocatalytic Activity

In this study, the complex K4[Mo(CN)8]·2H2O was successfully synthesized and subsequently exposed to photoirradiation, resulting in the formation of Mo(OH)3CN(Phen). To enhance the photocatalytic activity of both compounds, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was incorporated into the system. The successful synthesis of these photocatalysts was confirmed by thorough, comprehensive characterization using established techniques. The materials Mo-CN@rGO and Mo-Phen@rGO were evaluated for their effectiveness in degrading Methylene Blue (MB) and Rhodamine B (Rh-B) under visible light. Mo-CN@rGO exhibited remarkable adsorption capabilities, completely removing MB in 30 min without light exposure and degrading Rh-B by 86% in 80 min. Meanwhile, Mo-Phen@rGO demonstrated superior photocatalytic performance, degrading 88% of MB in 80 min and 86% of Rh-B in 70 min. The enhanced efficiency of these composites is attributed to the synergistic interaction between rGO and the molybdenum-based complexes, facilitating charge separation and increasing surface-active availability. This study highlights the potential of modified molybdenum cyanide-based materials, demonstrating their effectiveness in dye removal through both adsorption and photocatalysis. In addition, the GC-MS analysis confirms the complete absence of cyanide byproducts, thereby affirming the operational stability of the catalyst and mitigating the risk of cyanide contamination in aqueous environments. These findings offer valuable insights into the design of advanced functional materials for efficient wastewater treatment by strategically selecting ligands around a transition metal.