Heterogeneous Cu–Sn-PPy mediated synergistic photo-Fenton and photothermal catalysis for dye elimination

Abstract

The dye degradation method based on Fenton-like heterogeneous nanostructures has gained significant attention in recent years. We have developed a Copper-Stannum-Polypyrolle-Heterogeneous (Cu–Sn oxide-PPy Heterogeneous, CSPHGs) catalytic system. The system uses a PN junction formed by two oxide semiconductors (Cu2O and SnO2) as the core, which is then coated with polypyrolle (PPy) on the outer layer. Under near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation (500.0 μg ml−1, 1.2w·cm−2), the temperature rapidly reached approximately 45 °C within 5 min, demonstrating excellent photothermal performance. We have overcome the limitation of traditional Fenton reactions that require weak acidic conditions for effective operation. Moreover, we have increased the photostability of Cu2O monomers by incorporating them into a three-layer heterostructure. The Rhodamine B (RhB) degradation experiment revealed that the generated reactive oxygen species (·OH), effectively catalyze the decomposition of dyes. Within 120 min, the degradation rate exceeded 99%. This research provides a new option for environmental remediation through the combination of photo-Fenton and photothermal processes.