Boosting photodegradation performance through efficient MnO2/rGO nanocomposite: water remediation application

Water pollution caused by organic dyes poses a significant environmental challenge, necessitating the development of efficient and sustainable photocatalysts for wastewater treatment. In this present investigation, MnO2/rGO nanocomposites were prepared using a straightforward one-step microwave-assisted method. The synthesized nanocomposite underwent various analyses, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–Vis spectroscopy (UV), as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to assess its physical, structural, and morphological characteristics. The physiochemical results confirmed the successful formation of the MnO2/rGO nanocomposite, with SEM results revealing a nanocomposite size ranging from 10–20 nm. In assessing the photocatalytic activity of the prepared samples, the degradation of rhodamine-B dye (RhB) was examined under visible light irradiation for 150 min. The MnO2/rGO nanocomposite exhibited superior photocatalytic activity compared to the pristine sample. Furthermore, a detailed exploration of the photocatalytic degradation mechanism and material stability was conducted. This study provides promising insights into the development of efficient MnO2/rGO-based photocatalysts for the effective removal of organic pollutants from contaminated water.