Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity of N-doped Cu2O/ZnO Nanocomposite on Degradation of Methyl Red

In this study, a N-doped Cu2O/ZnO nanocomposite was prepared by a co-precipitation and thermal decomposition technique from CuCl2, 2H2O, ZnSO4, 7H2O and CO(NH2)&l...

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Main Authors:	Yohannes Teklemariam Gaim, Gebrekidan Mebrahtu Tesfamariam, Gebretinsae Yeabyo Nigussie, Mengstu Etay Ashebir
Format:	Article
Language:	English
Published:	MDPI AG 2019-10-01
Series:	Journal of Composites Science
Subjects:	photocatalyst nanocomposite dye degradation co-precipitation
Online Access:	https://www.mdpi.com/2504-477X/3/4/93

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spelling	doaj-6bfff98fc5424583a912f89f1a05a50b2020-11-25T02:36:19ZengMDPI AGJournal of Composites Science2504-477X2019-10-01349310.3390/jcs3040093jcs3040093Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity of N-doped Cu<sub>2</sub>O/ZnO Nanocomposite on Degradation of Methyl RedYohannes Teklemariam Gaim0Gebrekidan Mebrahtu Tesfamariam1Gebretinsae Yeabyo Nigussie2Mengstu Etay Ashebir3Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle P.O.Box: 231, EthiopiaDepartment of Chemistry, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle P.O.Box: 231, EthiopiaDepartment of Chemistry, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle P.O.Box: 231, EthiopiaDepartment of Chemistry, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle P.O.Box: 231, EthiopiaIn this study, a N-doped Cu<sub>2</sub>O/ZnO nanocomposite was prepared by a co-precipitation and thermal decomposition technique from CuCl<sub>2</sub>, 2H<sub>2</sub>O, ZnSO<sub>4</sub>, 7H<sub>2</sub>O and CO(NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub> as precursors. The as-synthesized nanocomposites were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared analysis (FT−IR) and an ultraviolet−visible (UV−Vis) reflectance spectrometer. From the XRD diffractogram of N-doped Cu<sub>2</sub>O/ZnO nanocomposite, cubic and hexagonal wurtzite crystal structures of Cu<sub>2</sub>O, and ZnO, respectively were identified. The UV-vis reflectance spectra illustrated that the absorption edge of N-doped Cu<sub>2</sub>O/ZnO nanocomposite is more extended to the longer wavelength than ZnO, Cu<sub>2</sub>O and Cu<sub>2</sub>O/ZnO nanomaterials. FT−IR bands confirmed the presence of ZnO, Cu<sub>2</sub>O, and nitrogen in the N-doped Cu<sub>2</sub>O/ZnO nanocomposite. Photocatalytic activity of the as-synthesized nanocomposite was tested for methyl red degradation using sunlight as an energy source by optimizing the concentration of the dye and amount of the catalyst loaded. The degradation efficiency was greater in N-doped Cu<sub>2</sub>O/ZnO nanocomposite as compared to ZnO, Cu<sub>2</sub>O and Cu<sub>2</sub>O/ZnO nanomaterials. This is due to the coupling of the semiconductors which increases the absorption and exploitation capability of solar light and increases the charge separation as well. Besides that, nitrogen doping can extend absorption of light to the visible region by decreasing the energy gap. Therefore, N-doped Cu<sub>2</sub>O/ZnO nanocomposite is a solar light-active photocatalyst which can be used in the degradation of organic pollutants.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-477X/3/4/93photocatalystnanocompositedye degradationco-precipitation
collection	DOAJ
language	English
format	Article
sources	DOAJ
author	Yohannes Teklemariam Gaim Gebrekidan Mebrahtu Tesfamariam Gebretinsae Yeabyo Nigussie Mengstu Etay Ashebir
spellingShingle	Yohannes Teklemariam Gaim Gebrekidan Mebrahtu Tesfamariam Gebretinsae Yeabyo Nigussie Mengstu Etay Ashebir Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity of N-doped Cu<sub>2</sub>O/ZnO Nanocomposite on Degradation of Methyl Red Journal of Composites Science photocatalyst nanocomposite dye degradation co-precipitation
author_facet	Yohannes Teklemariam Gaim Gebrekidan Mebrahtu Tesfamariam Gebretinsae Yeabyo Nigussie Mengstu Etay Ashebir
author_sort	Yohannes Teklemariam Gaim
title	Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity of N-doped Cu<sub>2</sub>O/ZnO Nanocomposite on Degradation of Methyl Red
title_short	Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity of N-doped Cu<sub>2</sub>O/ZnO Nanocomposite on Degradation of Methyl Red
title_full	Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity of N-doped Cu<sub>2</sub>O/ZnO Nanocomposite on Degradation of Methyl Red
title_fullStr	Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity of N-doped Cu<sub>2</sub>O/ZnO Nanocomposite on Degradation of Methyl Red
title_full_unstemmed	Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity of N-doped Cu<sub>2</sub>O/ZnO Nanocomposite on Degradation of Methyl Red
title_sort	synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic activity of n-doped cu<sub>2</sub>o/zno nanocomposite on degradation of methyl red
publisher	MDPI AG
series	Journal of Composites Science
issn	2504-477X
publishDate	2019-10-01
description	In this study, a N-doped Cu<sub>2</sub>O/ZnO nanocomposite was prepared by a co-precipitation and thermal decomposition technique from CuCl<sub>2</sub>, 2H<sub>2</sub>O, ZnSO<sub>4</sub>, 7H<sub>2</sub>O and CO(NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub> as precursors. The as-synthesized nanocomposites were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared analysis (FT−IR) and an ultraviolet−visible (UV−Vis) reflectance spectrometer. From the XRD diffractogram of N-doped Cu<sub>2</sub>O/ZnO nanocomposite, cubic and hexagonal wurtzite crystal structures of Cu<sub>2</sub>O, and ZnO, respectively were identified. The UV-vis reflectance spectra illustrated that the absorption edge of N-doped Cu<sub>2</sub>O/ZnO nanocomposite is more extended to the longer wavelength than ZnO, Cu<sub>2</sub>O and Cu<sub>2</sub>O/ZnO nanomaterials. FT−IR bands confirmed the presence of ZnO, Cu<sub>2</sub>O, and nitrogen in the N-doped Cu<sub>2</sub>O/ZnO nanocomposite. Photocatalytic activity of the as-synthesized nanocomposite was tested for methyl red degradation using sunlight as an energy source by optimizing the concentration of the dye and amount of the catalyst loaded. The degradation efficiency was greater in N-doped Cu<sub>2</sub>O/ZnO nanocomposite as compared to ZnO, Cu<sub>2</sub>O and Cu<sub>2</sub>O/ZnO nanomaterials. This is due to the coupling of the semiconductors which increases the absorption and exploitation capability of solar light and increases the charge separation as well. Besides that, nitrogen doping can extend absorption of light to the visible region by decreasing the energy gap. Therefore, N-doped Cu<sub>2</sub>O/ZnO nanocomposite is a solar light-active photocatalyst which can be used in the degradation of organic pollutants.
topic	photocatalyst nanocomposite dye degradation co-precipitation
url	https://www.mdpi.com/2504-477X/3/4/93
work_keys_str_mv	AT yohannesteklemariamgaim synthesischaracterizationandphotocatalyticactivityofndopedcusub2suboznonanocompositeondegradationofmethylred AT gebrekidanmebrahtutesfamariam synthesischaracterizationandphotocatalyticactivityofndopedcusub2suboznonanocompositeondegradationofmethylred AT gebretinsaeyeabyonigussie synthesischaracterizationandphotocatalyticactivityofndopedcusub2suboznonanocompositeondegradationofmethylred AT mengstuetayashebir synthesischaracterizationandphotocatalyticactivityofndopedcusub2suboznonanocompositeondegradationofmethylred
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Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity of N-doped Cu<sub>2</sub>O/ZnO Nanocomposite on Degradation of Methyl Red

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