Facile fabrication of Gd(OH)3 nanorod/RGO composite: Synthesis, characterisation and photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI)

•Gd(OH)3 nanorod/RGO composite was synthesised by a facile one step hydrothermal route.•Gd(OH)3 nanorod/RGO composite show superior photocatalytic activity.•The photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) was studied upon UV irradiation.•RGO plays a significant role in the higher activity of Gd(OH)3 nanorod.

Well crystalline, phase pure and stable Gd(OH)3 nanorod/RGO composite was synthesised by a facile hydrothermal method without using any structural directing agent. Composite formation, structural, morphological, optical and photoelectrochemical characterisation of the nanocomposites were examined by Powder X-ray diffraction pattern (PXRD), Raman spectral analysis, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Diffuse reflectance UV–Vis (DRUV–Vis), Photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) and Photocurrent measurement. The synthesised Gd(OH)3 nanorod/RGO composite showed 2 and 3-fold higher photo catalytic activity compared to pure 1D-Gd(OH)3 nanorod and Gd(OH)3 nanoparticle, respectively for the photoreduction of Cr(VI) ion from water. The high photocatalytic activity of Gd(OH)3 nanorod/RGO composite has been ascribed to the strong interaction of Gd(OH)3 nanorod with RGO which leads to easy diffusion and transport of photoexcited electron (e−) on the layer surface of RGO resulting in the inhibition of electron (e−)–hole (h+) recombination. The enhanced activity of Gd(OH)3 nanorod/RGO composite is also well explained in terms of light harvesting property, significant quenching of its luminescence intensity, high photocurrent generation (18 times more than neat Gd(OH)3 nanorod) and high surface area.

Graphical abstractReduction of Cr(VI) over Gd(OH)3 nanorod/RGO composite under UV-light.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide