Simple synthesis of Cu2O/Na-bentonite composites and their excellent photocatalytic properties in treating methyl orange solution

Cu2O/Na-bentonite (Cu2O/NB) composites were firstly synthesized by a simple deposition method. The morphology and composition of the prepared catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area. The results show that the Cu2O microparticles can be immobilized on the surface of the NB. Visible-light photocatalytic properties of the Cu2O/NB composites were evaluated using methyl orange (MO) as a model pollutant and the effects of various experimental factors on MO decolorization were investigated. Cu2O/NB composites demonstrated a much higher photocatalytic activity than the pure Cu2O particles under similar experimental conditions.