Polypyrrole and a polypyrrole/nickel oxide composite – single-walled carbon nanotube enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light†
Abstract
Nickel oxide (NiO) decorated SWCNTs with a wrap of polypyrrole (PPy) on them to form a core–shell nanostructure (NPC) have been prepared by a cost-effective two-step simple chemical route. The interaction between the PPy chain and SWCNTs via NiO contributes to high-performance photocatalytic activity in the visible optical range. Compared to pure PPy (P0) and the PPy–SWCNT composite (PC), NPC possesses strong optical absorbance in the visible wavelength range, remarkable charge transfer efficiency, and boosted separation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs. Accordingly, the visible-light-assisted photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants by NPC is significantly increased. NPC in the presence of a minimal amount of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) promotes super-fast photodegradation rates for malachite green (MG) and rhodamine B (RhB), which are almost 6.8 and 7.3 times greater than that of P0, respectively. Considering its simple preparation and excellent performance, NPC could be a promising visible-light-assisted photocatalyst in environmental remediation.
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