Simple synthesis of WO3 based activated carbon co-doped CuS composites for photocatalytic applications

Abstract

This research work reports the simple synthesis of pure tungsten trioxide (WO3), its doping series with activated carbon (AC) in addition to pure copper sulfide (CuS). Then, WO3 based AC was co-doped with CuS composites, prepared through the facile hydrothermal method. The photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Aspirin is reported here. The percentage of CuS was varied as 10% and 15% in the 2% AC doped WO3 sample. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy and ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy techniques have been used to characterized the prepared samples. Photocatalytic performance was investigated for the time period of 150 min for degradation of the Aspirin drug. Here in this research, Aspirin has been used as a as a model organic pollutant. The photocatalytic study revealed that WO3 based AC co-doped 15% CuS have the highest degradation efficiency (97%) following by first-order pseudo reaction rate. It is observed that the same sample is photo-stable, anti-photo corrosive and has been proved to be environmental friendly. This is also reusable after many cycles of activity. These results suggested that 15% CuS composite can be utilized as a photo-catalyst for the degradation of pharmaceutical pollutants without causing any other secondary pollutant.