Loading nano-rod cobalt phthalocyanine onto nitrogen-doped graphene and its application in photodegradation reaction under visible-light

The preparation of nanostructure cobalt phthalocyanine/nitrogen-doped graphene (CoPc/NG) composite is described in this contribution. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), FT-IR, Raman spectrometer, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS and Map). The photocatalytic activity of the final product was tested for degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP), as a probe contaminant under visible-light irradiation. The result shows that the DCP degradation efficiency is increased with a hybrid of CoPc and nitrogen-doped graphene (NG). This composite could eliminate about 80% of DCP (50 mL, 40 mg L-1) within 135 min. The study of kinetic models showed that the DCP degradation process follows pseudo first-order kinetics. The prepared CoPc/NG composite containing an appropriate dose of nitrogen exhibited the highest reaction rate constant in comparison with other catalysts.