Effect of N2/Ar plasma treatment on the visible light photocatalytic activity of CuO/TiO2

The effect of N-2/Ar dielectric barrier discharge plasma on the photocatalytic activity of CuO/TiO2 under visible light irradiation was studied. The photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The plasma parameters including gas composition, treatment time, and plasma power were investigated. The activities of the plasma-treated photocatalysts were evaluated by the photodegradation of methyl orange under visible light illumination. The optimal operation conditions were N-2:Ar = 8:2, treatment time of 20 min, and a discharge current of 1.0 A. Simulated mercury-containing wastewater was treated by the photocatalysts. (C) 2014, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.