Highly efficient photocatalytic removal of methylene blue by lamellar structured nanocrystalline and amorphous CuO

Photocatalyst microstructure dramatically influences their performance in wastewater treatment applications. In this study, nanocrystalline/amorphous CuO with a three-dimensional flower-like structure was successfully prepared for subsequent degradation of methylene blue (MB). The results illustrate that the photodegradation rate of CuO under visible light can reach 96.41%, which indicates that prepared CuO can be used for the effective removal of organic dye from wastewater. In simulating seawater with NaCl in deionized water, the prepared CuO showed excellent photocatalytic activity. The existence of a crystalline/amorphous phase in the CuO can enhance electron transport via electronic crystalline/amorphous interfacial reconstruction. Moreover, the three-dimensional flower-like structure of CuO is able to shorten the diffusion distance between the electron and the hole, providing significantly improved photoelectric efficiency.