The synthesis of dandelion-like CuO nanoflowers and photocatalytic degradation of RhB

In this paper, novel three-dimensional (3D) CuO precursor was synthesized under the ice water bath. The flower-like micellar polyp-phenylenediamine (PpPD) was synthesized when the p-phenylenediamine–salicylic acid ([SA]/PPD) ratio was 1:1. The two amino groups of PpPD interacted with Cu2+ by the coordination interactions. After calcination in the air, dandelion-like CuO nanoflowers were successfully prepared. The physicochemical properties of the as-prepared CuO were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectrometer (FT-IR), UV–vis absorption spectra (UV–vis), and energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS). In the participation of H2O2, the as-obtained CuO nanoflowers exhibited high efficiency on the decolorization of rhodamine B (RhB) by the synergy of ·OH and ·O2−. The novel dandelion-like CuO also provided more active sites to improve the photocatalytic effect. It can be applied to the degradation of dyes, such as RhB, and plays a role in environmental pollution control.