Preparation of Cu₂O Nanoparticles as a Catalyst in Photocatalyst Activity Using a Simple Electrodeposition Route

In order to obtain inexpensive and effective application of catalyst for photodegradation, Cu2O powder was prepared by the simple and inexpensive electrodeposition method using surfactants such as glycerin (GLY), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) that helped the growth and nucleation of suspended particles. These particles were distinguished by atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Diameter size of these obtained particles was found to reach to about 40 nm. In order to demonstrate the photodegradation efficiency of the copper oxide in the removal of organic malachite green oxalate (MG) dye, the catalyst was used both in calcination at 300 °C and without calcination. Parameters such as the amount of catalyst, the concentration of dye, the pH of dye sol, and the temperature were calculated. Pseudo first order reactions according to Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetics could be obtained from the result of photocatalytic reactions. Parameters such as energy activation (Ea), enthalpy of activation (ΔH⁰), entropy of activation (ΔS⁰) and free energy of activation (ΔG⁰) were calculated. The activation energy was equal to 11.719 ± 1 and 11.083 ± 1 kJ/mol for MG dye in the presence of Cu₂O nanoparticles in both two cases of calcination and without calcination respectively.