The purpose of this research was to find a cheaper and more efficient photocatalyst in order to generate hydrogen, a valuable fuel source. Recently, a new method for attaching ZnSe to graphene while simultaneously nitrogen doping and reducing the graphene has been found. This process involves [ZnSe](DETA)0.5 nanobelts being heated with graphene oxide resulting in ZnSe nanorods on nitrogen doped graphene. Due to the similarities in Zn and Cd, CdSe nanorods on nitrogen doped graphene were attempted by reacting CdSe nanobelts with graphene oxide based on the previous synthesis involving ZnSe. The products were characterized using x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The resulting nanorods on nitrogen-doped graphene were then tested for photocatalytic abilities by reducing methyl orange, which was used to test ZnSe on nitrogen-doped graphene, but had not been tried for CdSe yet.

Synthesis and photocatalytic abilities of ZnSe and CdSe nanorods on nitrogen-doped graphene

247th National Meeting (2014)

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