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One-step sol-gel fabrication of TiO2/(CuO+Cu2O) photocatalysts

  • Original Paper: Sol-gel and hybrid materials for catalytic, photoelectrochemical and sensor applications
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Abstract

Photocatalytically active TiO2 + CuO+Cu2O composite structures on copper foil and pre-oxidized copper grids were fabricated using a novel one-step sol-gel synthesis. The sol used included titanium tetraisopropoxide, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, and nitric acid. Scanning electron microscopy of the composites synthesized upon calcination of the dip-in deposited sol at 400–500 °C demonstrated them to consist of a granular oxide surface layer with a thickness up to 200 nm penetrated by CuO whiskers as long as up to several micrometers. Copper oxides (CuO and Cu2O), as well as titanium dioxide (TiO2) in the anatase phase, were registered by X-ray diffraction analysis. High photocatalytic activity with respect to the test pollutant Rhodamine B in an aqueous solution under UV-activation was observed. The developed surface morphology combined with an efficient separation of photogenerated charge carriers at the TiO2/(CuO or Cu2O) heterojunctions is considered to be responsible for the observed photocatalytic activity. The proposed one-step fabrication of catalytically active materials immobilized on a substrate is promising for improving existing water and air purification systems.

Photocatalytic decomposition of Rhodamine B in water solution (10 mg/l) by a photocatalyst containing CuO, Cu2O, and TiO2 under UV irradiation, and morphology of the photocatalyst (insert)

Highlights

  • TiO2/(CuO+Cu2O) photocatalysts were one-step synthesized on copper foils and grids by sol-gel method.

  • Pre-oxidation of copper grids develops the morphology of the composite photocatalyst on their surfaces.

  • TiO2/(CuO+Cu2O) catalysts synthesized on copper foils completely reduce test pollutant Rhodamine B in water solution within 40 min under UV irradiation.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to D.V. Zhigulin for the SEM images and to Professor V.V. Uglov for the XRD analysis of the samples.

Funding

This research was funded by the Project F21UZBG-002 of the Belarus Republican Fond for Fundamental Researches, Project № MRB-2021-538 funded by the Ministry of Innovative Development of Uzbekistan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Physics, Belarusian State University, 4 Nezavisimosti Av., 220030, Minsk, Belarus

    Liudmila Khoroshko

  2. Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, P. Browka 6, Minsk, 220013, Belarus

    Liudmila Khoroshko, Viktor Borisenko & Petr Baltrukovich

  3. National University of Uzbekistan, University str.4, Tashkent, 100174, Uzbekistan

    Suvonkul Nurmonov & Olim Ruzimuradov

  4. Turin Polytechnic University in Tashkent, Kichik Khalqa Yoli Street 17, Tashkent, 100095, Uzbekistan

    Olim Ruzimuradov

Authors
  1. Liudmila Khoroshko
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  2. Viktor Borisenko
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  3. Petr Baltrukovich
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  4. Suvonkul Nurmonov
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  5. Olim Ruzimuradov
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The manuscript was written through the contributions of all authors. All authors have given approval to the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Liudmila Khoroshko.

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Khoroshko, L., Borisenko, V., Baltrukovich, P. et al. One-step sol-gel fabrication of TiO2/(CuO+Cu2O) photocatalysts. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 108, 320–324 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-022-05906-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-022-05906-w

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