Simple and low-cost synthesis of CuO nanosheets for visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of textile dyes

Abstract

In this study, an attempt was made to synthesize highly pure CuO nanosheets by a simple and economically viable solution phase method; and well characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM and EDS analyses. The SEM morphological analysis demonstrates the existence of sheet-like architecture with the length and width of 250–350 nm and 200 ± 20 nm while XRD illustrates the presence of pure monoclinic phase. A suitable growth mechanism for CuO nanosheets formation explained clearly. The calculated band gap from diffuse reflectance UV–vis analysis is 1.31 eV. Moreover, the photocatalytic studies revealed that the nanosheets were shown superior degradation efficiency in visible light irradiation. From the observed results, it is found that the Methylene Blue (MB) has enhanced adsorption compared to Rhodamine – B (RhB) at the nanocatalysts surface can effectively react with the hydroxyl radicals generated in its vicinity to attain the maximum degradation.