Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue Dye Using Carbon Dots-Modified Copper Chloride Hydroxide Nanocomposite

Abstract

Most chemical industries use dyes to give product color, causing the environmental pollution and human disease. It is necessary to develop a cheap, reliable and sustainable technology to deal with wastewater. Under the photocatalysis of transitional metal oxides, dye pollution could be eliminated in a flexible route with assistance of light radiation. Designing a cheap photocatalyst in a convenient system is expected ever in fashion. In this article, the Cu2Cl(OH)3 nanocomposite was prepared using a simple salting method of copper sheet. Then the carbon dots (CDs) was impregnated with different concentrations in order to improve the catalyst properties of Cu2Cl(OH)3  under UV light irradiation. The change of UV-vis spectra and photocurrent response were coincident with improved signals. Thus the photocatalytic ability was investigated through the degradation of methylene blue (MB). The kinetic rate was obviously enhanced with CDs doped Cu2Cl(OH)3. The intermediates produced during the photo-reaction was monitored via the chemical trapping agent. By analyzing the characteristics and electrochemical feature of prepared sample, the catalytic center was explored.

Keywords: copper compound, salting method, Photocatalysis, carbon dots modification