Rational design of uniformly embedded Cu/CoTe nanoparticles in freestanding rGO sheets for visible light-induced degradation of toxic dyes

Abstract

The future catalytic conversion technologies using an inexpensive catalyst is beneficial as they influence energy-saving and harvest-boosted photocatalytic performances toward environmentally carcinogenic pollutants removal. Here, we demonstrate a feasible hydrothermal-assisted strategy to engineer a novel low-dimensional ordered nanoarchitecture comprising Cu ion-modulated CoTe nanoalloy grown onto reduced graphene nanosheets (rGO/Cu/CoTe nanocomposites) is established for toxic dye removal applications. They are advancing the excellence of Cu ion-modulated CoTe nanoalloy catalytic sites encapsulated carbon sheets for effective electron/hole transport, thus boosting catalytic reactions. This obtained integral nanoarchitecture may enhance ion/mass transportation by the greatly ordered crystalline structure and ease the formation of reactive species, radicals, and intermediate products. The holey rGO/Cu/CoTe displays enhanced photocatalytic performance toward visible-light-induced photodegradation of toxic dye Methylene Blue (MB) and Methyl Orange (MO). The 98% and 90.3% degradation efficiencies for MB and MO dyes are observed within 180 min, respectively. Furthermore, the influence of cation modulation on the active catalytic sites could be ascribed by a greatly exposed atom on a lateral surface, consequential from an enormous surface area compared to other chalcogen-based carbon nanocomposites.