tIn this paper, we have introduced a novel property of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) as efficient nano-materials for degradation of organic pollutant dyes based on the photocatalytic behavior of GQDs undervisible light irradiation. GQD samples were synthesized directly through pyrolyzing citric acid method.The synthesized GQDs were characterized by various techniques including colorimetry, transmissionelectron microscopy (TEM), and UV–vis absorption, Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, andzeta potential measurements. In this study, a cationic dye (i.e., New Fuchsin) was chosen as a modelmolecule to investigate catalytic behavior of the prepared GQDs as green nanomaterials. The influenceof experimental parameters such as pH of the dye solution, contacting time, dosage of GQDs, and initialconcentration of NF dye on the degradation efficiency of GQD were studied. The possible mechanisms ofdegradation of NF based on GQDs under visible light were discussed, too.
