The comparative study of two reusable phosphotungstic acid salts/reduced graphene oxides composites with enhanced photocatalytic activity

In this work, two recyclable phosphotungstic acid salts/reduced graphene oxides were successfully prepared. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), infrared spectroscopy (IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), Raman spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The structure and catalytic performance of two composites were comparatively investigated, and the reduced graphene oxide mass ratios in K₃[PW₁₂O₄₀]/reduced graphene oxide (denoted as KPW-RGO) and (NH₄)₃[PW₁₂O₄₀]/reduced graphene oxide (denoted as NH₄PW-RGO) were optimized and their roles in them were explored. The results indicate that the Keggin structures of KPW and NH₄PW are still kept after being anchored on the RGO surface, but their morphologies change a lot in composites. The photocatalytic activities of KPW-3RGO (0.01989 min^-1) are 5.42 times than that of KPW (0.00367 min^-1), and NH₄PW-1RGO (0.0184 min^-1) is 2.26 times than that of NH₄PW (0.00814 min^-1). The enhanced photocatalytic activity is mainly ascribed to photo-induced interfacial charge transfer on the heterojunction between RGO and NH₄PW or KPW and strong adsorption ability of RGO towards MO. Moreover, NH₄PW-1RGO and KPW-3RGO had much better photocatalytic activity, good recyclable ability, and stability compared to HPW-RGO, which cannot be recycled.