Effect of Cu/Zn Ratio on the Morphology and Photocatalytic Activity of Cu2O/ZnO Nanocomposite Nanopowder

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

School of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, I.R. IRAN

Abstract

In this study, nanostructured Cu2O powder was produced by the mechanical milling of micron-size Cu2O powder, and then a Cu2O/ZnO nanocomposite powder with different ratios of Cu/Zn was prepared by a chemical method. The effect of various Cu/Zn ratios of 5, 10, and 20 on the structure, morphology, optical properties, and photocatalytic performance in the degradation of methylene blue pollutant solution by composite nanopowder was investigated. The results of X-ray diffraction showed that the final product has a crystalline structure with relatively broadened peaks, which indicates a fined structure. The scanning electron microscope images showed that in the nanocomposite with the Cu/Zn ratio of 5, ZnO covered almost the entire surface of the Cu2O particles. The optical properties of nanocomposites were studied by diffuse reflection spectroscopy and the minimum band gap energy was related to the nanocomposite with Cu/Zn ratio of 5, 1.9 eV, and this was in the visible light range. This sample showed the maximum photocatalytic activity in the degradation of the pollutant under visible light and exhibits 98% degradation of neutral aqueous solution methylene blue at a concentration of 2 mg/L after 240 minutes of irradiation under visible light.

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References

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