Issue

Vol. 5 No. 3 (2013)

Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of ZnO/CuO Nanocomposites Synthesized by Hydrothermal Method

https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03353746
Tongqin Chang
Department of Technology and Physics, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Zijiong Li
Department of Technology and Physics, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Gaoqian Yun
Department of Technology and Physics, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Yong Jia
Department of Technology and Physics, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Hongjun Yang
Department of Technology and Physics, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou 450002, China

Corresponding Author: Zijiong Li

shimoxi2012@126.com

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 5 No. 3 (2013), Article Number: 163-168

Abstract

In this paper, we have demonstrated a facile and low-cost synthesis of the ZnO/CuO nanocomposites by two-step hydrothermal methods. The photocatalytic properties of the as-synthesized ZnO/CuO nanocomposites have been evaluated by the photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) and methyleneorange (MO) under UV irradiation. Experimental results show that MB and MO can be degraded completely within 15 and 25 min by the ZnO/CuO nanocomposites and its photodegradation rate is 6 times faster than that of pure ZnO. This enhanced photocatalytic activity can be ascribed to the low recombination probability of photo-induced carriers due to the efficient charge transfer in the nanocomposites. The as-synthesized ZnO/CuO nanocomposite may be a promising candidate for dye photodegradation of wastewaters.

Keywords

Photocatalytic degradation Nanocomposites ZnO/CuO Hydrothermal
Chang, Tongqin, Zijiong Li, Gaoqian Yun, Yong Jia, and Hongjun Yang. 2013. “Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of ZnO/CuO Nanocomposites Synthesized by Hydrothermal Method”. Nano-Micro Letters 5 (3):163-68. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03353746.
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)
BibTeX
References
  1. C. G. Tian, Q. Zhang, A. P. Wu, M. J. Jiang, Z. L. Liang, B. J. Jiang and H. G. Fu, “Cost-effective large-scale synthesis of ZnO photocatalyst with excellent performance for dye photodegradation”, Chem. Commun. 48(23), 2858–2860 (2012). http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c2cc16434e
  2. Y. J. Jang, C. Simer and T. Ohm, “Comparison of zinc oxide nanoparticles and its nano-crystalline particles on the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue”, Mater. Res. Bull. 41(1), 67–77 (2006). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.materresbull.2005.07.038
  3. J. Kaur, S. Bansal and S. Singha, “Photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange using ZnO nanopowders synthesized via thermal decomposition of oxalate precursor method”, Physica B 416, 33–38 (2013). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physb.2013.02.005
  4. R. Kumar, Girish Kumar and A. Umar, “ZnO nano-mushrooms for photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange”, Mater. Lett. 97, 100–103 (2013). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2013.01.044
  5. D. Lutic, C. Coromelci-Pastravanu, I. Cretescu, I. Poulios and C. D. Stan, “Photocatalytic treatment of Rhodamine 6G in wastewater using photoactive ZnO”, Inter. J. Photoenergy 2012, 47513–8 (2012). http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/475131
  6. J. G. Yu and X. X. Yu, “Hydrothermal synthesis and photocatalytic activity of zinc oxide hollow spheres”, Environ. Sci. Technol. 42 (13), 4902–4907 (2008). http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es800036n
  7. Y. X. Wang, X. Y. Li, N. Wang, X. Quan and Y. Y. Chen, “Controllable synthesis of ZnO nanoflowers and their morphology-dependent photocatalytic activities”, Sep. Purif. Technol. 62(3), 727–732 (2008). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2008.03.035
  8. Y. X. Wang, Y. Li, G. Lu, G. H. Chen and Y. Y. Chen, “Synthesis and photo-catalytic degradation property of nanostructured-ZnO with different morphology”, Mater. Lett. 62(15), 2359–2362 (2008). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2007.12.019
  9. R. Georgekutty, M. K. Seery and S. C. Pillai, “A highly efficient Ag-ZnO photocatalyst: synthesis, properties, and mechanism”, J. Phys. Chem. C 112(35), 13563–13570 (2008). http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jp802729a
  10. P. Pawinrat, O. Mekasuwandumrong and J. Panpranot, “Synthesis of Au-ZnO and Pt-ZnO nanocomposites by one-step flame spray pyrolysis and its application for photocatalytic degradation of dyes”, Catal. Commun. 10(10), 1380–1385 (2009). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.catcom.2009.03.002
  11. Z. Y. Zhan, L. X. Zheng, Y. Z. Pan, G. Z. Sun and L. Li, “Self-powered, visible-light photodetector based on thermally reduced graphene oxide-ZnO (rGO-ZnO) hybrid nanostructure”, J. Mater. Chem. 22, 2589–2595 (2012). http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c1jm13920g
  12. T. A. Saleh, M. A. Gondal and Q. A. Drmosh, “Preparation of a MWCNT/ZnO nanocomposite and its photocatalytic activity for the removal of cyanide from water using a laser”, Nanotechnology 21(49), 495705–8 (2010). http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0957-4484/21/49/495705
  13. B. J. Li and H. Q. Cao, “ZnO@graphene composite with enhanced performance for the removal of dye from water”, J. Mater. Chem. 21, 3346–3349 (2011). http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c0jm03253k
  14. T. Xu, L. Zhang, H. Cheng and Y. F. Zhu, “Significantly enhanced photocatalytic performance of ZnO via graphene hybridization and the mechanism study”, Appl. Catal. B: Environmental 101(3), 382–387 (2011). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2010.10.007
  15. C. Zhang, L. W. Yin, L. Y. Zhang, Y. X. Qi and N. Lun, “Preparation and photocatalytic activity of hollow ZnO and ZnO-CuO composite spheres”, Mater. Lett. 67(1), 303–307 (2012). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2011.09.073
  16. A. Wei, L. Xiong, L. Sun, Y. J. Liu and W. W. Li, “CuO nanoparticle modified ZnO nanorods with improved photocatalytic activity”, Chin. Phys. Lett. 30(4), 046202–5(2013). http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0256-307X/30/4/046202
  17. C. Wang, X. M. Wang, B. Q. Xu, J. C. Zhao, B. X. Mai, P. A. Peng, G. Y. Sheng and J. M. Fu, “Enhanced photocatalytic performance of nanosized coupled ZnO/SnO2 photocatalysts for methyl orange degradation”, J. Photochem. Photobio. A: Chem. 168(1), 47–52 (2004). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2004.05.014
  18. G. Li, N. M. Dimitrijevic, L. Chen, T. Rajh and K. A. Gray, “Role of surface/interfacial Cu2+ sites in the photocatalytic activity of coupled CuO-TiO2 nanocomposites”, J. Phys. Chem. C 112, 19040–19044 (2008).
  19. Z. L. Liu, J. C. Deng, J. J. Deng and F. F. Li, “Fabrication and photocatalysis of CuO/ZnO nano-composites via a new method”, Mater. Sci. Eng. B 150, 99–104 (2008). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mseb.2008.04.002
  20. B. X. Li and Y. F. Wang, “Facile synthesis and photocatalytic activity of ZnO-CuO nanocomposite”, Superlattice. Microst. 47, 615–623 (2010). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.spmi.2010.02.005
  21. J. Wang, X. M. Fana, D. Z. Wu, J. Dai, H. Liu, H. R. Liu and Z. W. Zhou, “Fabrication of CuO/T-ZnOw nanocomposites using photo-deposition and their photocatalytic property”, Appl. Surf. Sci. 258, 1797–1805 (2011). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2011.10.048
  22. K. G. Chandrappa and Thimmappa V. Venkatesha, “Electrochemical synthesis and photo-catalytic property of zinc oxide nanoparticles”, Nano-Micro Lett. 4(1), 14–24 (2012). http://dx.doi.org/10.3786/nml.v4i1.p14-24
  23. J. G. Yu, Y. Hai and M. Jaroniec, “Photocatalytic hydrogen production over CuO-modified titania”, J. Colloid Interf. Sci. 357(1), 223–228 (2011). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2011.01.101
  24. S. Jung and K. Yong, “Fabrication of CuO-ZnO nanowires on a stainless steel mesh for highly efficient photocatalytic applications”, Chem. Commun. 47, 2643–2645 (2011). http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c0cc04985a
  25. Z. G. Liu, H. W. Bai and D. D. Sun, “Hierarchical CuO/ZnO membranes for environmental applications under the irradiation of visible light”, Inter. J. Photoenergy 2012, 804840–11 (2012). http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/804840
  26. Q. J. Xiang, J. G. Yu and P. K. Wong, “Quantitative characterization of hydroxyl radicals produced by various photocatalysts”, J. Colloid Interf. Sci. 357(1), 163–167 (2011). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2011.01.093
Read More
Author biographies are not available.
Download this PDF file
PDF
Statistic
Read Counter : 5184 Download : 3946

Most read articles by the same author(s)