Photocatalytic degradation of crystal violet dye on the novel CuCr2O4/SnO2 hetero-system under sunlight

Abstract

We report the study of the physicochemical properties of the spinel CuCr2O4 and its photoactive effect with the hetero-system CuCr2O4/SnO2. The spinel CuCr2O4 presents a direct gap (Eg) of 1.39 eV, a stable behavior against photo-corrosion and a cathodic photocurrent which characteristic of type p conduction in conformity with the chrono-amperometric profile. The flat band potential (Vfb = −0.27 VSCE) was determined from the capacitance measurement. At natural pH, the degradation of CV (15 mg/L) is quasi total with CuCr2O4/SnO2 under sunlight after 90 min. CV degradation obeys pseudo-first-order kinetics with an apparent constant 0.012 min−1.