A facile one-step green synthesis of bismuth/reduced graphene oxide (Bi/rGO) nanocomposite using safe chemicals: Catalysis and charge-storage applications

In a facile, environmentally friendly, and economically viable one-step process, this work reports the first green synthesis approach for bismuth/reduced graphene oxide (Bi/rGO) nanocomposite. It uses soluble starch as a safe reducing agent. As demonstrated by X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet-visible, Fourier-transform infrared, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopic studies, starch efficiently and concurrently reduces the Bi³⁺ ion and GO to produce Bi/rGO nanocomposite. An examination using Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy proved that the bismuth nanoplates were anchored to exfoliated rGO sheets. When sodium borohydride was used to reduce 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol, the resulting Bi/rGO nanocomposite demonstrated remarkable catalytic efficiency at a rate that was 1.5 times faster than that of bare bismuth nanoplates synthesized using starch. The Bi/rGO nanocomposite also showed high reusability, converting 4-NP by 54% on the fifth cycle. Furthermore, compared to GO and rGO synthesized using starch, the Bi/rGO nanocomposite had better conductivity and improved current density. The large-scale synthesis of Bi/rGO nanocomposite using this green process opens up new possibilities for an alternative to traditional chemical procedures that is both easier and more environmentally friendly. The final product can be used as an important material in energy storage devices and wastewater treatment.

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