Reduction-Induced Synthesis of Reduced Graphene Oxide-Wrapped Cu₂O/Cu Nanoparticles for Photodegradation of Methylene Blue

Abstract

A photocatalytic composite in powder form having nanosized Cu2O/Cu granules wrapped in multilayered reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets was synthesized. The fabrication process was initiated by potentiostatic electrodeposition of n-type Cu2O thin films on Ti substrates in an acetate bath. Peeled-off Cu2O thin films were next subjected to ultrasonic mixing with graphene oxide (GO) by maintaining a Cu2O/GO mass ratio of 125:10. Chemical reduction using ascorbic acid converted Cu2O partially to Cu, while converting GO completely to rGO as confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of the composite confirmed the presence of Cu nanoparticles of the size of tens of nanometers within the photocatalyst, Cu2O. The fabrication process therefore implicitly favors synthesis of nanosized Cu playing the role of a co-catalyst. The Cu2O/Cu/rGO composite showed significantly higher ability to degrade methylene blue in solution, while the effects due to photocorrosion were minimal during a month of testing when compared with Cu2O alone. The layered rGO provides an effective medium for transporting photoelectrons to the reactant while inhibiting photocorrosion. Furthermore, the composite demonstrated its ability to split water under visible light in the presence of methanol and creates a promising platform to further develop a variety of other photocatalytic applications.

Harnessing Protein Waste into Reduced Graphitic Carbon Oxide‐Copper‐Collagen Nanocomposite for Visible Light Photocatalytic Degradation of Nano Plastics

“…The presence of a band at 618 cm −1 in the rGO‐Cu NPs spectrum, which corresponds to the Cu─O stretching vibrations, indicates that Cu NPs were successfully immobilized on the surface of rGO. [ 38 ]…”

A Review on Cu2O-Based Composites in Photocatalysis: Synthesis, Modification, and Applications

“…Zhang et al [69] doped Zn in Cu and the hydrogen production rate of Cu2O was six times higher than th when the Zn content was 0.1 wt.%. Kalubowila et al [70] proposed a n introducing cocatalysts. They used ascorbic acid (AA) to reduce the prep where Cu2O was partially converted to Cu, and GO was fully converted to particles with tens of nanometers have acted as co-catalysts in Cu2O/Cu/r providing centers for effective charge transfer, and enhancing the perform catalytic degradation.…”

“…Zhang et al [ 69 ] doped Zn in Cu 2 O microcubes, and the hydrogen production rate of Cu 2 O was six times higher than that of pure Cu 2 O when the Zn content was 0.1 wt.%. Kalubowila et al [ 70 ] proposed a new method for introducing cocatalysts. They used ascorbic acid (AA) to reduce the prepared Cu 2 O/GO, where Cu 2 O was partially converted to Cu, and GO was fully converted to rGO.…”

Photodegradation of methylene blue dye using graphene oxide incorporated, post-transition metal doped zinc oxide thin films by spray pyrolysis

“…Further modifications have been made by incorporating two dimensional (2D) structures like graphene or graphene oxide (GO) or reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to the nanocomposite catalysts [10,11]. The combination of metal oxide semiconductor materials and graphene-based 2D structures have improved the efficiency of the catalysts in a greater extent [12][13][14]. ZnO/GO nanoflowers have been utilized for the photodegradation of MB dye and industrial wastewater [15].…”