Cu₂O Nanoparticles: A Simple Synthesis, Characterization and Its Photocatalytic Performance toward Methylene Blue

抄録

Cuprous oxide nanoparticles (Cu₂O-NPs) were fabricated by a simple solution-phase reduction route with a one-step reduction method. The used original chemicals were the copper sulfate and the sodium sulfite. The physicochemical properties of Cu₂O-NPs were investigated by different methods such as XRD, Raman, SEM, and UV-Vis spectra. The results show that the molar ratio of precursors ([CuSO₄]/[Na₂SO₃]) not only affects crystal structure and morphology but also affects the crystallinity of crystals and optical characteristics of Cu₂O-NPs samples. The photocatalytic activity of Cu₂O-NPs was evaluated by the removal of methylene blue (MB) aqueous solution under visible light irradiation. The result shows that good photocatalytic activity with the MB degradation is higher than 98% under visible light irradiation for 40 minutes and the rate constant of 0.11281 min⁻¹.

Simplified schematic diagram of the energy band structure and electron-hole pair separation in Cu₂O NPs for degradation of MB dye under visible light irradiation.