Facile synthesis of CuO nanomorphs and their morphology dependent sunlight driven photocatalytic properties

Cupric oxide (CuO) nanostructures having different morphologies such as spherical, vesicular, nanosheet and platelet were synthesized from copper sulfate in presence of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and oxalic acid utilizing chemical precipitation and hydrothermal methods. Variation in reaction parameters such as synthesis method and the complexing agent on the morphology of the nanoparticles were investigated. These nanostructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), thermo–gravimetric–differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), UV–Vis DR spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR), BET specific surface area analysis and particle size distribution. Effort has been made to explain the plausible growth mechanism for the formation of morphological structures. The catalytic activities of as-prepared CuO nanostructures were evaluated by monitoring degradation of methylene blue. The sunlight driven photocatalytic degradation rates of methylene blue were found to be 72.57%, 93.48%, 49.71% and 95.71% for spherical, vesicular, sheet like and the platelet like morphologies respectively.

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► Spherical, vesicular, platelet type and sheet-like CuO nanomorphs are synthesized.
► PVP and oxalic acid mediated chemical precipitation and hydrothermal methods are employed for synthesis.
► CuO nanomorphs mediated sunlight driven photocatalysis of methylene blue is studied.
► Platelet like CuO showed highest photoactivity towards MB degradation.