Eu2CuO4 nanostructures: A simple co-precipitation pathway, characterization, and promising photocatalytic application for dye removal under visible light

Abstract

Contamination of water has become an international concern, and finding efficient and sustainable methods to eliminate harmful pollutants is crucial for ensuring that clean and safe water resources are available. A promising approach in this regard is photocatalysis, which uses light energy to initiate chemical reactions that break down organic contaminants into harmless byproducts. This study presents a nanophotocatalyst based on europium copper oxide (Eu2CuO4) for the elimination of hazardous pollutants. The fabrication of Eu2CuO4 nanostructures was achieved through a simple and rapid co-precipitation process. According to diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), Eu2CuO4 has an optical bandgap of 1.56 eV, making it suitable for use in visible light. A variety of techniques were used to characterize Eu2CuO4 nanostructures, including XRD, FESEM, FTIR, VSM, HRTEM, BET, EDS, and LC-MS. In order to maximize effectiveness, several variables were considered, such as the amount of Eu2CuO4 used, the concentration of toxic pollutants, and the pH of the solution. It was found that Eu2CuO4 was quite effective in degrading various organic pollutants, particularly methyl orange (MO) of water. Using 50 mg of Eu2CuO4 in the presence of 20 ppm MO and exposing it to visible radiation for 100 min resulted in 94.9 % of MO being destroyed. A further analysis revealed that hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and holes (h+) played a dominant role in pollutant photodegradation. In light of this finding, Eu2CuO4 may serve as a valuable candidate for developing new materials that are capable of successfully removing contaminants from water.