Fabrication of Cu/ZnO system: A dual performer as photocatalyst and luminescent material

In this work "solve two problems with one single action" strategy was implemented to degrade industrial dye Amaranth (AM) and enhanced blue-green emission for optoelectronics applications in Cu2+ doped ZnO materials. The different concentrations (weight (wt) %) of Cu2+ doped ZnO materials have been synthesized by the thermal spreading method. The as-prepared ZnO and Cu2+ doped ZnO materials have been effectively confirmed by various spectroscopic methods. The crystalline phase, surface morphology, compositions of elements and energy bandgap were systematically studied by P-XRD, SEM, EDS and UV-Vis spectroscopic analysis, respectively. With the doping concentration, 18 wt% of Cu2+ doped ZnO revealed outstanding photocatalytic performance to the degradation of Amaranth under visible light irradiation with an efficacy of about 97%. Likewise, 18 wt% of Cu2+ doped ZnO shows strong blue-green emission at around 495 nm owing to internal oxygen vacancies. The present work gives some clue; it may be used as a proficient photocatalyst to degrade dyes and luminescent material for optoelectronics applications.