Synthesis of rGO-like materials from local agricultural wastes by microwave treatment followed by pyrolysis

Abstract

In this work, we have synthesized multilayer rGO-like sheets from agricultural wastes. They have been successfully prepared from sugarcane bagasse, wheat straw, and peanut shell. The process involved using simple alkaline microwave treatment process followed by calcination under vacuum condition. The produced rGO-like material has been characterized by several analytical techniques like SEM, EDX, TEM, FTIR and XRD. These analysis confirmed formation of multilayer rGO-like sheets. These rGO-like sheets shows efficient activity as a photocatalyst for water splitting reaction under visible light radiation. The experimental results indicated that treatment of the wheat stalk by microwave in 3.0 M KOH solution at for 24 minutes and calcined the obtained solid at 800 oC under vacuum results in obtaining the maximum hydrogen production rate; 46.62 mmol H2/hr gcat. This is corresponding to solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of 4.9 %. This study presents a new strategy for preparation of valuable photocatalysts from biomass wastes to be exploited green hydrogen production by photocatalytic water splitting under visible light radiation.