Fabrication of Magnesium Ferrite-Graphene Oxide-Copper Sulfide Nanocomposites to Increase Photocatalytic Properties

In this research, a new triplex catalyst of magnesium ferrite-graphene oxide-copper sulfide (MgFe2O4-GO-CuS) was synthesized for degradation of three various azo dyes Methyl orange, Methyl Red and Eriochrome Black-T under ultra-violet illumination. All three components have synergistic effect in photo-catalytic activities. In this work, magnesium ferrite as a suitable magnetic core, was synthesized by helping hydrothermal method and the graphene oxide sheets were prepared with Hummer’s method. On the other hand, these components were mixed with the help of ball milling procedure and ultra sound waves. Finally, CuS nanostructures were coated on the MgFe2O4-GO applying hydrothermal method. To specify the morphology, structure, particle size, purity, bandgap, and bonds were employed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The experimental conclusions determined that the MgFe2O4-GO-CuS nanocomposites were successfully synthesized and had a beneficial effect on the elimination of azo dyes.Keywords: Graphene oxide, Photocatalyst, Nanocomposites, copper sulfide, magnesium ferrite.