Abstract
In the present work, copper nanoparticles were deposited onto the surface of two different commercial titanias (Evonik Aeroxide P25 and Aldrich anatase). During the synthesis, the concentration of copper was systematically varied (0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 5.0%, and 10 wt.%) to optimize the composite-composition. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated under UV-light, using methyl orange and Rhodamine B as model and ketoprofen as real pollutant. For the hydrogen production capacity, oxalic acid was used as the sacrificial agent. The morpho-structural properties were investigated by using XRD (X-ray diffraction), TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy) DRS (Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy), XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy), and SEM-EDX methods (Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis). Increasing the copper concentration enhanced the photocatalytic activity for methyl orange degradation in the case of Aldrich anatase-based composites. When the P25-based composites were considered, there was no correlation between the Cu concentration and the activity; but, independently of the base photocatalyst, the composites containing 10% Cu were the best performing materials. Contrarily, for the ketoprofen degradation, increasing the copper concentration deteriorated the photoactivity. For both Aldrich anatase and P25, the best photocatalytic activity was shown by the composites containing 0.5% Cu. For the degradation of Rhodamine B solution, 1.5% of copper nanoparticles was the most suitable. When the hydrogen production capacity was evaluated, the P25-based composites showed higher performance (produced more hydrogen) than the Aldrich anatase-based ones. It was found that Cu was present in four different forms, including belloite (Cu(OH)Cl), metallic Cu, and presumably amorphous Cu(I)- and Cu(II)-based compounds, which were easily convertible among themselves during the photocatalytic processes.
Highlights
It is a known fact that, without water, there is no life because this is the compound that is most common on Earth
In which darker spots may indicate copper used a precursor, and Cu nanoparticles are small-sized during the synthesis and tend to hydroxylate
Ten new composites were produced based on two commercial titanium dioxides: Evonik Aeroxide
Summary
It is a known fact that, without water, there is no life because this is the compound that is most common on Earth. Seventy-one percent of our planet is covered by water, of which 2.5% is fresh water, and the rest is saltwater (seas, oceans), while the human body contains approximately 60% of water. Another sad fact is that the amount of potable water of the Earth is dropping drastically and is becoming more and more contaminated. Chemical, and biological wastewater treatment technologies, various alternative methods have been developed for water purification, and this circle is expanding. This includes high-efficiency oxidation procedures, whereby undesirable substances are initiated by photolysis or chemically generated radicals (OH radical). The most common methods are ozone-based, hydrogen peroxide-based (Foto-Fenton reaction: light +Fe2+ + hydrogen peroxide), and heterogeneous photocatalytic methods [2]
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