CuO/ZnO nanorods: An affordable efficient p-n heterojunction and morphology dependent photocatalytic activity against organic contaminants

In the present study, we report morphology dependent photocatalytic activity of CuO/ZnO nanorods by simple chemical synthesis for the first time. The nanorod morphology was clearly evidenced by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and hig resolution transmission electron microscope (H...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of alloys and compounds 2017-04, Vol.701, p.562-573
Main Authors: Senthil Kumar, P., Selvakumar, M., Ganesh Babu, S., Induja, S., Karuthapandian, S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Catalytic activity
Chemical synthesis
Contaminants
CuO/ZnO nanorods
Degradation
Dyes
Field emission microscopy
Fluorescence
Hydroxyl radical
Hydroxyl radicals
Luminescence
Mechanism
Morphology
Nanorods
Oxidation
Photocatalysis
Photocatalysts
Photocatalytic activity
Photoluminescence
Rhodamine
Sustainability
X ray photoelectron spectroscopy
Zinc oxide
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Summary:In the present study, we report morphology dependent photocatalytic activity of CuO/ZnO nanorods by simple chemical synthesis for the first time. The nanorod morphology was clearly evidenced by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and hig resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) analysis and confirmed the particle size of 20 nm. The composition and oxidation states of the CuO/ZnO nanorods were confirmed by XPS analysis. The potential efficacy of CuO/ZnO nanorods was evaluated towards the photocatalytic degradation of congo red (CR) and rhodamine B (RhB) dye solution. Very interestingly, the CuO/ZnO nanorods showed significantly superior photocatalytic activity compared to CuO, ZnO, a mixture of nano CuO and nano ZnO. The complete degradation of dye solution was successfully achieved within a short span of time. The effects of the different operational parameters viz amount of photocatalyst loading, initial concentration and pH were evaluated and the optimum condition for the superior activity was discovered. The prevention of the electron-hole pair recombination was strongly evidenced by photoluminescence (PL) analysis. Importantly, active involvement of hydroxyl radical in the photocatalytic degradation mechanism was strongly supported by the trapping experiments using different scavengers and fluorescence analysis. The CuO/ZnO nanorods photocatalyst also showed excellent degradation activity against the mixed dye solutions (CR and RhB). The stability and reusability results were clearly indicated that the sustainability of the CuO/ZnO nanorods in the photocatalytic reaction. Schematic representation of photocatalytic degradation of CR and RhB dye solutions in the presence of CuO/ZnO nanorods under visible light irradiation. [Display omitted] •Hierarchically structured CuO/ZnO nanorods were synthesized by simple precipitation method.•The photodegradation of dyes were performed against congo red and rhodamine b dye solution.•Favorable conditions for the degradation were optimized.•Main reactive oxidative species were found out by trapping experiment.
ISSN:0925-8388
1873-4669
DOI:10.1016/j.jallcom.2017.01.126