Synthesis and Characterization of CuAl LDH Supported CuO/ZnO Photocatalyst for Methylene Blue Dye Degradation in Aqueous Solution

Abstract

It Has Been A While Since The Expansion Of Textile Industries Has Become A Threat To Human Survival Because Of Wastewater Dye Discharge From The Industries. Among The Cutting-Edge Technologies To Solve This Crisis, Photocatalysis Has Been One Of The Best Methods Because Of Naturally Abundant Sunlight And Cost Effectiveness, Eco-Friendly, Non-Toxicity, Selectivity AndVersatility Of Photocatalysts. However, Among The Major Challenges Researchers Are Facing Now A Day Is To Design The Best Photocatalyst. Different Types And Forms Of Semiconductor Materials Have Been Used For Photocatalysis Applications. Supporting Ldh Are Among Those Used Extensively For Nanoparticle Dispersion Over Their Large Surface Area Which Reduces Agglomeration And Increases The Surface Area And Active Site Of Particles For Reaction Which Leads To Boosting Photocatalytic Performance. In This Work, A Simple Cost-Effective Coprecipitation Method For The Synthesis Of Cuo, Zno, And Cual Ldh, And A Wet Impregnation Method For Cuo/Zno And Cuo/Zno/Cual Ldh Was Used. The Synthesized Samples Were Characterized By X-Ray Diffraction (Xrd), Uv-Vis Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy, Photoluminescence Spectroscopy (Pl), Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (Eis), And Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (Ftir). The Xrd Analysis Confirmed The SuccessfulSynthesis Of All Desired Samples Which Indicated The Phase Of The Samples. In The Formation Of Heterojunction Between Cuo/Zno, The Band Gap Of Cuo/Zno Has Decreased From 3.25 To 2.81 And, Supporting Cual Ldh Decreased Further To 2.75 Ev. Pl Analysis Indicated The Reduction Of Recombination Of Photogenerated Charges By Reducing The Intensity Of Spectra. The Photocatalytic Activities Of Zno, Cuo, Cz2, Cual, Ldh, And Lcz2 Were Recorded As 36.4%, 52.7%, 73.8%, 44.5%, And 98.7% Respectively Within 100 Minutes. The Enhancement Of The Performance Is Concluded As Due To Low Recombination, Lower Electron Transfer Resistance, High Absorption Of Visible Light, Low Agglomeration, And High Surface Area Of Cuo/Zno Composite Particles. Therefore, The Preparation Of Cual Ldh-Supported Cuo/Zno Nanocomposite Is A Good Candidate For The Degradation Of Mb Under Visible Light.