Portable Visible-Light Photocatalysts Constructed from Cu2O Nanoparticles and Graphene Oxide in Cellulose Matrix

For the first time, portable visible-light photo-catalysts were fabricated by in situ synthesizing Cu2O in the micropores of regenerated cellulose (RC)/graphene oxide (GO) composite films, in which the porous matrix was used as a microreactor for the formation of Cu2O nanoparticles. Cu2O nanoparticles were immobilized and evenly distributed in the RC matrix to excite and generate free photoelectrons and electron holes, leading to the high photodegradation efficiency against methyl orange dye under visible-light irradiation. Moreover, the introduction of GO has dramatically improved the photocatalytic activities of Cu2O nanoparticles in the Cu2O/GO/RC nanocomposite films, leading to a significant enhancement of the photodegradation rate from 2.0 to 6.5 mg h(-1) g(cat)(-1). In the Cu2O/GO/RC photocatalysts, Cu2O nanoparticles inside the matrix tended to generate on the GO sheets, which transferred the yielded photoelectrons to prevent local high potential zone generation and to induce the chain degradation reaction at more points, leading to the improvement of the photocatalyst activity. Moreover, the portable photocatalysts could be easily recycled and reused, showing great potential applications for wastewater purification by utilizing solar energy.