Advanced ZnO–graphene oxide nanohybrid and its photocatalytic Applications

• Advanced ZnO-graphene oxide (GO) nanohybrid is synthesized.
• Well mixed ZnO-GO nanohybrid has been formed by the introduction of GO.
• ZnO-GO nanohybrid is utilized as photocatalyst for the photodegradation of crystal violet (Cv) dye.
• Enormously high degradation of Cv-dye by ∼95% within 80 min is obtained.

A nanohybrid of Zinc oxide (ZnO)–graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized by chemical route and utilized as an effective photocatalyst for the photodegradation of crystal violet (Cv) dye. The substantially mixed ZnO–GO nanohybrid was formed by the introduction of GO during the synthesis of ZnO. Prepared ZnO–GO nanohybrid showed the better optical properties and exhibited the good interaction between GO and ZnO. The photocatalytic activity of ZnO–GO nanohybrid was analyzed by performing the photodegradation of Cv-dye under light illumination. Enormously high degradation of Cv-dye by ∼95% within 80 min was observed over the surface of advanced ZnO–GO nanohybrid, which might attribute to the presence of GO sheets as a supporting material and high e−–h+ pair separation under light illumination.