Article: Impacts of copper-containing precursors on the photocatalytic activity of Cu-modified ZnO nanoparticles Journal: International Journal of Nanotechnology (IJNT) 2020 Vol.17 No.7/8/9/10 pp.514 - 528 Abstract: Cu-modified ZnO photocatalysts were prepared using a thermal shock method with different copper-containing precursors (Cu(NO3)2, Cu(CH3COO)2, CuSO4) in order to study the impacts of the thermal shock method on the photocatalytic activity of ZnO under both UVA light and visible light irradiation. The influences of copper-containing precursors on the crystal structure, morphology, surface structure and surface composition were investigated by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The UVA-light and visible-light-induced photocatalytic activities were evaluated through the degradation of methylene blue. According to the experimental results, ZnO catalysts modified with Cu(NO3)2 and Cu(CH3COO)2 exhibited higher performance than unmodified ZnO, which may be explained by the formation of oxygen vacancies and Cu(I) species on the surface of modified oxides. However, when ZnO was modified by CuSO4, the absence of oxygen vacancies and the presence of large sulphate ions on the ZnO surface were supposed to be the factors decreasing its photocatalytic activity. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Impacts of copper-containing precursors on the photocatalytic activity of Cu-modified ZnO nanoparticles

Authors: The Luan Nguyen; Tien Khoa Le; Torben Lund; Huu Khanh Hung Nguyen; Thi Kieu Xuan Huynh

Addresses: Department of Chemistry, VNUHCM – University of Science, 227 Nguyen Van Cu Street, Dist. 5, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam ' Department of Chemistry, VNUHCM – University of Science, 227 Nguyen Van Cu Street, Dist. 5, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam ' Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark ' Department of Chemistry, VNUHCM – University of Science, 227 Nguyen Van Cu Street, Dist. 5, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam ' Department of Chemistry, VNUHCM – University of Science, 227 Nguyen Van Cu Street, Dist. 5, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam

Abstract: Cu-modified ZnO photocatalysts were prepared using a thermal shock method with different copper-containing precursors (Cu(NO₃)₂, Cu(CH₃COO)₂, CuSO₄) in order to study the impacts of the thermal shock method on the photocatalytic activity of ZnO under both UVA light and visible light irradiation. The influences of copper-containing precursors on the crystal structure, morphology, surface structure and surface composition were investigated by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The UVA-light and visible-light-induced photocatalytic activities were evaluated through the degradation of methylene blue. According to the experimental results, ZnO catalysts modified with Cu(NO₃)₂ and Cu(CH₃COO)₂ exhibited higher performance than unmodified ZnO, which may be explained by the formation of oxygen vacancies and Cu(I) species on the surface of modified oxides. However, when ZnO was modified by CuSO₄, the absence of oxygen vacancies and the presence of large sulphate ions on the ZnO surface were supposed to be the factors decreasing its photocatalytic activity.

Keywords: ZnO; photocatalysis; surface modification; thermal shock; copper-containing precursors; XPS; oxygen vacancies.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2020.111321

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2020 Vol.17 No.7/8/9/10, pp.514 - 528

Published online: 20 Nov 2020 *

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Title: Impacts of copper-containing precursors on the photocatalytic activity of Cu-modified ZnO nanoparticles

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