Three-Dimensional Hierarchical Superstructures of CuO Nanoflowers: Facile Synthesis and Applications for Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Dyes

Abstract

A new nano-flower shaped material of CuO (3D CuONFs) with three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical superstructures were synthesized using mild experimental conditions, which showed high-efficiency and conveniently recyclable for five degradation including methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO), methyl violet (MV), bromocresol green (BG) by visible light irradiation. The structure of 3D CuONFs was important to improve the photo-degrading efficiency, due to the large specific surface area. The 3D CuONFs was characterized by various techniques including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms, and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), which evidently support the mentioned mechanism.