Synthesis of CuO-based heterostructures for application in heterogeneous photocatalysis

Abstract

Heterogeneous photocatalysis is an advanced oxidative process based on the use of semiconductor material to promote the degradation of organic contaminants in aqueous and/or gaseous media, as well as the reduction of some species, such as CO2. These possibilities added to the potential for reuse of the catalyst material are characteristics that imply the increasing number of studies addressing this topic. In this context, the production of heterostructured catalysts stands out for allowing the development of materials with improved photocatalytic activity when compared with pristine precursors. This is related to the reduction in the recombination rate of the electron-hole pairs formed by the excitation of the semiconductor catalyst, which is directly or indirectly responsible for the processes. Thus, it is proposed in this project the synthesis of heterostructures based on CuO, formed by the combination of this with other oxides, such as ZnO and TiO2. The materials will be studied regarding their ability to photodegrade organic contaminants in aqueous media under UV and visible radiation. The materials will be characterized by X-ray diffractometry, infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Thus, this work intends to collaborate with the understanding of the synthesis variables of CuO-based heterostructures, correlating these with the properties of the materials.(AU)