Enhanced photocatalysis of ZnO nanowires co-modified with cuprous oxide and silver nanoparticles

Abstract

We report on the enhanced photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanowires (NWs) co-modified with Cu2O and Ag nanoparticles (NPs). ZnO NWs are thermally grown on substrates and modified with Cu2O, Ag, or both NPs by photoreduction. Photoluminescence and absorption spectra measurements reveal that co-modified NWs have best charge separation and highest absorption. The photocatalytic activity of the NWs is evaluated by degrading a 50μM rhodamine B solution under the illumination of a halogen lamp. All NP modified NWs show better efficiencies than as-grown ones and co-modified NWs have the best performance. The zeroth-order kinetic constant of the co-modified NWs is 0.32μMmin−1, which is 3.2 times as high as that of as-grown ones.