Abstract
In this study, ZnO-CuO heterostructures were synthesized via a green approach using Muntingia calabura leaf extract with insights into the precursor ratio for enhanced photocatalytic performance. The synthesized materials were characterized by modern analytic methods, including X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry, which elucidated the presence of CuO nanospheres and ZnO semi-cuboids. Thanks to a lower bandgap of 2.24 eV compared to pristine ZnO (2.82 eV), better visible light absorption, and longer charge lifetime, the optimal ZC16 sample, corresponding to a Cu:Zn ratio of 1:16, achieved a hydrogen peroxide production of 350.23 μM under visible light that was further increased to 478.98 μM with oxygen aeration. In addition, ZC16 also demonstrated excellent photodegradation performance towards malachite green (95.82 %) and tetracycline (97.78 %). Disclosure into the photocatalytic mechanism of both processes revealed the significant roles of active radicals, which have proven the environmentally friendly and cost-efficient synthesis pathway of ZnO-CuO heterostructures for environmental remediation and clean energy applications.
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