Photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange using CuO/Al2O3 nanocomposite obtained by microwave-assisted thermal decomposition route

• DOI: 10.1016/j.inoche.2024.112272
• Publication Date: 2024-03-07T17:54:03Z
• Authors: Hanan Alhussain; Hela Ferjani; Opeyemi A. Oyewo; Seshibe Makgato; Damian C. Onwudiwe
• Keywords: Methyl orange; Monoclinic crystal system; Copper oxide

Aluminum oxide (Al2O3) and copper (CuO) are known to exhibit very exceptional properties including high thermal chemical that promise a wide area of applications. In this paper, we report the microwave-assisted decomposition route CuO/Al2O3 nanocomposite its application as photocatalyst for methyl orange (MO) degradation. Al2O3 was first prepared at different temperatures 900, 1000, 1100 °C, denoted Al2O3(1), Al2O3(2), Al2O3(3). Subsequently, best temperature (1000 °C) selected synthesis nanocomposite. XRD analysis confirmed hexagonal crystal structure all monoclinic phase CuO within composite. The crystallite sizes alumina increased with similar growth pattern occurred in entire samples. Scanning electron microscopy transmission (SEM TEM) show clear spherical morphology samples obvious agglomeration increases. Optical characterization displayed decreasing band gap energies increasing temperature, implying size increase due particle interaction, boundary energy reduction, grain migration. photocatalytic performance under visible light evaluated on (MO), degradation studied some process parameters such effect catalysts dosage initial concentration MO. Results showed exhibited about 94.2 % efficiency 3 h using an optimum dose 2.0 g/L MO 20 mg/L. However, use nanocomposites remove other organic pollutants could confirm robustness catalyst.