Photocatalysis using zero-valent nano-copper for degrading methyl orange under visible light irradiation

• Nano-copper possessed visible-light photocatalytic activity.
• The activity of nano-copper was affected by the morphologies of nano-copper.
• There was enhancement electric field in course of light absorption on the surface of nano-copper.
• Enhancement electric field intensity maybe decided the visible-light photocatalytic activity of nano-copper.

As one of zero-valent transition metals, nano-copper was synthesized by a simple chemical reduction route and its photocatalytic activity was appraised by the degradation rate of methyl orange (MO) in aqueous solution under irradiation of a three-band fluorescent lamp. The results showed that nano-copper possessed visible-light photocatalytic activity. The finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method was used to simulate the electric field distribution of nano-copper. From the results of simulation, it found that there was an enhancement electric field in course of light absorption on the surface of nano-copper, different morphology resulted in a diverse electric field distribution. Enhancement electric field intensity decided the visible-light photocatalytic activity of nano-copper. So the activity was affected by the morphology of nano-copper, as the size reduced and surface roughness increased, could be enhanced. It did be worth noting that the nanoscale of copper played the fatal decisive role for whether copper has the ability to degrade MO. So As-prepared nano-copper may be a novel visible-light photocatalytic material to treat organic pollution.