One-pot hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of FeS2 (pyrite)/graphene nanocomposite

• Published in: Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Vol. 218; pp. 276 - 284
• Main Authors: Golsheikh, A. Moradi, Huang, N.M., Lim, H.N., Chia, C.H., Harrison, I., Muhamad, M.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier B.V 15.02.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chemical engineering; electron microscopy; Exact sciences and technology; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; Gelatin; Gelatins; Graphene; Hydrothermal; Nanocomposite; Nanocomposites; Nanomaterials; nanoparticles; Nanostructure; Photocurrent; Photoelectric effect; Pyrite; pyrites; Raman spectroscopy; temperature; X-ray diffraction; Nanocomposite; Pyrite; Gelatin; Graphene; Hydrothermal; Nanoparticle; pH; Fourier-transformed infrared spectrometry; Electron microscopy; X ray diffraction
• ISSN: 1385-8947; 1873-3212
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2012.09.082

► FeS2 (pyrite)/graphene nanocomposite was synthesized by a hydrothermal method. ► Uniform distribution of FeS2 nanoparticles on graphene sheets is achieved. ► Gelatin plays a decisive role in the preparation of FeS2/graphene nanocomposite. ► High performance photocurrent response for FeS2/graphene nanocomposite. This work reports on the investigation of temperature, reaction time, pH, concentration of graphene oxide (GO) and the effect of gelatin on the synthesis of pyrite structured FeS2 nanoparticles assembled on graphene nanosheets using a facile ‘one-pot’ hydrothermal method. The results of X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and electron microscopy confirmed the simultaneous formation of pyrite structured FeS2 and the reduction of GO, yielding a nanocomposite of the materials, through the hydrothermal process. The systematic investigation shows that the nanocomposite, comprising a uniform distribution of nanoparticles on the surface of the graphene sheets, is easily synthesized, providing that certain reaction criteria are achieved. The condition warrants that the reaction is carried out in the presence of gelatin with a concentration of 1.5wt.%/v in a pH of 11 at 200°C for 24h. Photocurrent response of the samples showed that the nanocomposite with the GO concentration of 1mg/mL produced the highest photocurrent value of about 1.01μA, which is about 2.6 times higher than that obtained by the pure FeS2.