Synthesis of Cu₂O and Cu₂O-C₃N₄ nanomaterials for the photodegradation of organic dyes under visible light irradiation

These experiment fabricated C3N4 powdermaterials by the calcinational method and fabricated Cu2O, Cu2O-3%C3N4, Cu2O-5%C3N4 nanomaterials by the hydrothermal method. The powdermaterials characteristics were studied by methods such as: X-ray diffraction (XRD); raman shift; scanning electron microscope (SEM); UV-vis solid absorption spectra. The photocatalytic activity of samples was studied by decomposition of methylene blue dye under visible light radiation. The results showed that the fabricated C3N4 sample was single phase with high porosity cotton structure. The Cu2O, Cu2O-3%C3N4 and Cu2O-5%C3N4 samples had octahedral crystal structure with the crystal particle size was about 200-300 nm. The C3N4 doped Cu2O samples had octahedral crystal particles arranged more closely than that of Cu2O and filled in gaps by cotton, porous clusters of C3N4. The materials all had the absorption spectra expanded in the visible light region (l» 450-900 nm). The C3N4 doped Cu2O samples achieved the better photocatalytic efficiency than Cu2O and C3N4 samples in visible light region. The highest photocatalytic efficiency achieved 100% was of the Cu2O-3%C3N4 sample in the photodegradation of methylene blue dye after 30 minutes under visible light irradiation.