Visible light-embedded CuO/ZnO twofold execution for photocatalysis and photoluminescence

In the present work, tackle the two issues with one single activity resource that strategy has followed. The organic dye methyl orange (MO) and drug ciprofloxacin (CIP) have been effectively degraded by the synthesized ZnO@CuO under visible light irradiation. The hexagonal structured zinc oxide (ZnO), monoclinic structured copper oxide (CuO) and the mixed phase of ZnO@CuO has been prepared by the hydrothermal method. The structural characterization of prepared materials has been analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction (P-XRD) and the Rietveld refinement technique. The surface morphology of synthesized materials has been measured by scanning electron microscope characterization. The luminescence performance of prepared materials has studied by photoluminescence (PL) characterization. The photocatalytic results suggest that the ZnO@CuO composite is the effective candidate of degradation of ciprofloxacin antibiotic drug and methyl orange dye. From the results, ZnO@CuO revealed excellent photocatalytic behavior for CIP and MO degradation under stimulated sun light irradiation with the efficiency of above 95%. In addition, the optimum parameters were analyzed to the degradation process. This type of affordable photocatalyst gives a new beginning for further research studies. In addition, the electron density distribution analysis of synthesized materials has been studied.