Cuprous oxide film sputtered on monolayer graphene for visible light sensitive heterogeneous photocatalysis

Abstract

A two dimensional thin film catalyst system was produced in this study as Cu2O/2D graphene on the copper foil having catalytic activity in the visible region of solar spectrum. Catalyst structure was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and confocal Raman spectroscopy techniques. Existence of photocatalytic activity was demonstrated by hydrogen peroxide degradation under 14 W LED light. Using monolayer graphene in the design of the catalyst increased the activity almost 16 times compared to the neat catalyst without graphene. Activity in the light was 8.6 times higher than the dark. Graphene used in the catalyst system was perfect monolayer having no defect and its 2D/G ratio was 2.72. Surface roughness of the catalyst according to the atomic force microscopy results was found to be 1.1 µm. Surface morphology of thin film catalyst was channeled like, mostly dimpled but had no apparent micro cracks with a thickness value of 290.9 nm ± 10 nm.