CuO/WO3 and Pt/WO3 nanocatalysts for efficient pollutant degradation using visible light irradiation

CuO/WO3 and Pt/WO3 nanocatalysts with a nanorod morphology were used for photodegradation of organic compounds using visible light irradiation. Both nanocatalysts were prepared using flame assisted spray pyrolysis method (FASP). The prepared nanocatalysts were mechanically stable during the agitation treatment for the photodegradation test due to good interconnection between WO3 and co-catalysts. The enhancement of photocatalytic activity was observed after the addition of CuO and Pt as co-catalysts. The addition of CuO would change the morphology of WO3 from nanorods to cubic. The optimal concentration of the CuO addition was 0.33 wt.%. A low Pt concentration (0.12 wt.%) was required for optimal photocatalytic activity of the Pt/WO3 nanocomposite. The addition of Pt affected neither the morphology nor the crystallite structure of WO3. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.