Portable
Visible-Light Photocatalysts Constructed
from Cu<sub>2</sub>O Nanoparticles and Graphene Oxide in Cellulose
Matrix
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Abstract
For
the first time, portable visible-light photocatalysts were
fabricated by in situ synthesizing Cu<sub>2</sub>O in the micropores
of regenerated cellulose (RC)/graphene oxide (GO) composite films,
in which the porous matrix was used as a microreactor for the formation
of Cu<sub>2</sub>O nanoparticles. Cu<sub>2</sub>O nanoparticles were
immobilized and evenly distributed in the RC matrix to excite and
generate free photoelectrons and electron holes, leading to the high
photodegradation efficiency against methyl orange dye under visible-light
irradiation. Moreover, the introduction of GO has dramatically improved
the photocatalytic activities of Cu<sub>2</sub>O nanoparticles in
the Cu<sub>2</sub>O/GO/RC nanocomposite films, leading to a significant
enhancement of the photodegradation rate from 2.0 to 6.5 mg h<sup>β1</sup> g<sub>cat</sub><sup>β1</sup>. In the Cu<sub>2</sub>O/GO/RC photocatalysts, Cu<sub>2</sub>O nanoparticles inside
the matrix tended to generate on the GO sheets, which transferred
the yielded photoelectrons to prevent local high potential zone generation
and to induce the chain degradation reaction at more points, leading
to the improvement of the photocatalyst activity. Moreover, the portable
photocatalysts could be easily recycled and reused, showing great
potential applications for wastewater purification by utilizing solar
energy