Photocatalytic performance of rod-shaped copper oxides prepared by spin coating

Copper oxides (CuO and Cu2O), having narrow bandgap and a variety of chemophysical properties, are attractive in many fields such as solar cells, energy conversion, optoelectronic devices, and catalyst. In this work, these copper oxides are synthesised via co-precipitation method and spin coating and annealed in various temperatures. Then, samples are characterised by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and ultraviolet-visible light absorption spectra. From the SEM images of sample annealed at 450 degrees C, the diameter and lengths range of the rod-shaped particles were 30-70 and 200-300 nm, respectively. Finally, to investigate the photocatalytic activity of oxides, methyl orange (MeO) degradation by copper oxides under UV irradiation was studied. Pure CuO with bandgap energy 1.37 eV and specific surface areas 91.3 m(2)/g had a greater efficiency of MeO degradation value 87.8%.