Effect of CuO nanoparticle additive on optical, photocatalytic and surface properties of TiO2 mesoporous nanoparticles

In this study, composite nanoparticles of TiO2-CuO (TC) were synthesized using the sol-gel method. Tetra butylorthotitanate and copper (II) nitrate trihydrate were used as precursors to titanium dioxide and copper oxide, respectively. Ethanol was used as a solvent. Dynamic light scattering, X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm, field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the nanoparticles. The synthesized photocatalytic nanoparticles were used to degrade methylene blue dye solution as a model of organic pollutant under UV and visible light irradiation. The TC sample calcined at 550 degrees C has the highest photocatalytic percentage under visible light (33.14 %) and the best photocatalytic activity at 650 degrees C under ultraviolet light (40 %). The pure TiO2 sample has an adsorption edge of 365 nm with a band gap energy of 3.39 eV and the mesoporous TiO2-CuO sample with an absorption edge wavelength of 375 nm has a band gap energy of 3.30 eV at 350 degrees C. According to the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study, Ti was predominantly chemically present as Ti 4+. Cu was found to be a cation with a capacity of two (Cu 2+).