6 MeV energy electron beam assisted synthesis of Ag–rGO nanocomposite and its photocatalytic activity

•Ag–rGO nanocomposite has been synthesized by a 6 MeV electron beam assisted method.•AgNPs of size 8 nm were decorated on reduced graphene oxide sheet.•Ag–rGO nanocomposite showed enhanced photocatalytic activity with Methylene blue dye.

Electron beam assisted method has been employed for the synthesis of silver-reduced graphene oxide (Ag–rGO) nanocomposite in the presence of isopropyl alcohol and polyvinyl pyrrolidine. The decoration of face centered cubic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of size 8 nm on reduced graphene oxide has been confirmed by UV–visible spectroscopy, X-ray Diffractogram and Transmission electron microscopy. Raman spectra showed the increase in the disorder parameter (ID/IG) of Ag–rGO after electron irradiation due to the formation of large number of small sp2 domains. Moreover, as an application of the synthesized Ag–rGO sample showed an enhanced photo-catalytic degradation of methylene blue compared to graphene oxide, rGO and AgNPs under sunlight.