Structural elucidation and environmental remediation potential of Ficus carica mediated synthesis of novel Eu₃O₄/rGO nanocatalyst

A novel europium oxide/reduced graphene oxide (Eu₃O₄/rGO) nanocatalyst was synthesized via green one pot method and green deposition method using Ficus carica leaves extract. The prepared nanocatalyst was characterized by UV–vis., FTIR, TGA, SEM, HR-TEM, and XRD. Band gaps of Eu₃O₄/rGO nanocatalyst by green one pot method and green deposition method were found 3.27 and 5.5 eV, respectively. The particle size of Eu₃O₄/rGO nanocatalyst determined by HRTEM was found 16.9 and 32.1 nm when prepared by using green one pot method and green deposition method, respectively. Significant morphology was observed in the SEM images of Eu₃O₄/rGO nanocatalysts; where Eu₃O₄ nanoparticles were observed to be dispersed on chunks of sheets of rGO. The catalytic activity of prepared nanocatalyst was performed against Methylene blue, Rhodamine B, and Ciprofloxacin. The green one pot method demonstrated highest levels of degradation activity 88, 75 and 54 % against MB, CIP, and Rh B pollutants present in wastewater, respectively and helps to achieve SDGs 6 and 13.