Synthesis and enhanced photocatalytic performance of 0D/2D CuO/tourmaline composite photocatalysts.

Changqiang Yu,Xianbin Liu,Yesheng Li,Zhen Tong,Tongxiang Liang,Dionysios D Dionysiou,Ziping Wu,Yanhong Yin,Min Wen,Shuhua Li

doi:10.3762/bjnano.11.31

Abstract

Photocatalysis is considered to be a green and promising technology for transforming organic contaminants into nontoxic products. In this work, a CuO/tourmaline composite with zero-dimensional/two-dimensional (0D/2D) CuO architecture was successfully obtained via a facile hydrothermal process, and its photocatalytic activity was evaluated by the degradation of methylene blue (MB). Surface element valence state and molecular vibration characterization revealed that CuO chemically interacted with tourmaline via Si–O–Cu bonds. The specific surface area of the CuO/tourmaline composite (23.60 m2 g−1) was larger than that of the pristine CuO sample (3.41 m2 g−1). The CuO/tourmaline composite exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity for the degradation of MB, which was ascribed to the increase in the quantity of the adsorption-photoreactive sites and the efficient utilization of the photoinduced charge carriers. This study provides a facile strategy for the construction of 0D/2D CuO structures and the design of tourmaline-based functional composite photocatalysts for the treatment of organic contaminants in water.

Highlights

Developing a novel semiconductor with excellent photoreactive activity toward the treatment of organic contaminants in wastewater is in urgent need owing to the deterioration of the ecological environment [1]
In comparison to pure CuO, the binding energy of Cu 2p3/2 and Cu 2p1/2 for the CuO/tourmaline composite was shifted to 933.49 eV and 953.37 eV, respectively, providing evidence of the chemical interaction between CuO and tourmaline
The larger pore volume and BET specific surface area confirmed that the CuO/tourmaline composite with 0D/2D CuO structure possessed an increased number of active sites

Summary

Introduction

Developing a novel semiconductor with excellent photoreactive activity toward the treatment of organic contaminants in wastewater is in urgent need owing to the deterioration of the ecological environment [1]. The agglomeration of nanoscale CuO results from the high surface energy and the quick recombination of the photoinduced charge carriers and restricts the photocatalytic activity [13,14]. A hydrothermal process was employed to synthesize the CuO/ tourmaline composite.

Results

Conclusion