Synthesis Characterization and Application of Modified Graphene Oxide Reduced Graphene Oxide Catalysts in Photocatalytic Degradation and as Antibacterial Agent

Abstract

Graphene Oxide (GO), a functionalized derivative of graphene, is a highly promising nanomaterial owing to its large surface area, rich oxygen-containing functional groups, tunable electronic structure, and excellent dispersibility in aqueous media. These properties make GO a versatile platform for a wide range of catalytic and environmental applications. Among the various fields of application, this thesis focuses on the development of GO-based nanocomposites for enhanced photocatalytic and antibacterial performance. Different modification strategies such as exfoliation, doping, defect engineering, hydrothermal treatment, and heterojunction formation were employed to improve light absorption, charge separation, and surface reactivity. The synthesized GO and reduced GO (rGO) based nanocatalysts were systematically characterized and evaluated for the degradation of organic contaminants, including dyes, phenolic compounds, and antibiotics, under visible light irradiation. In addition, the antimicrobial potential of the developed materials was explored for water disinfection. The outcomes of this work contribute to the advancement of GObased multifunctional nanomaterials for environmental remediation and antimicrobial protection.