Abstract
Novel fly ash cenospheres supported CuO–BiVO4 heterojunction composites (CuO–BiVO4/FACs) were prepared by modified metalorganic decomposition and impregnation methods. The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), and UV–vis diffused reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) techniques. The XPS and SEM analyses indicated that Cu was present as CuO dispersed on the surface of BiVO4. The DRS spectra revealed that the composites had improved optical adsorption in the visible light region, and the composites exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity for methylene blue (MB) degradation under visible light irradiation. It was found that the 5wt% CuO-loaded composite showed the highest photocatalytic activity for MB dye wastewater treatment. FACs, a by-product generated in coal-firing power plants, were used as a low cost support which favored phase separation after the reaction owing to their low density.
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