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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.
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