Synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic applications of novel sword-like copper oxide microparticles

This letter aimed to synthesize novel copper oxide (CuO) microparticles via the microemulsion method followed by calcination. The synthesized material was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy techniques; and subsequently applied for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) using the heterogeneous photo-Fenton method. SEM images revealed the formation of homogeneous sword-like CuO microparticles. The XRD pattern and EDS spectrum confirmed that the main part of the material was CuO with the formation of Na8Cu5O10 as an impurity. The photocatalytic degradation of MB followed the first-order kinetic model according to the general Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism. The as-prepared materials can be successfully applied in the visible-light-induced photocatalytic degradation of hazardous organic compounds and industrial wastewaters.

Automated summary

Novel sword-like CuO microparticles were synthesized via the microemulsion method followed by calcination, and applied for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue. The synthesized material exhibited efficient degradation performance for hazardous organic compounds and industrial wastewaters.