Efficient catalytic effect of CuO nanostructures on the degradation of organic dyes

An efficient catalytic effect of petals and flowers like CuO nanostructures (NSs) on the degradation of two organic dyes, methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (RB) were investigated. The highest degradation of 95% in CuO petals and 72% in flowers for MB is observed in 24 h. For RB, the degradation was 85% and 80% in petals and flowers, respectively for 5 h. It was observed that CuO petals appeared to be more active than flowers for degradation of both dyes associated to high specific surface area. The petals and flower like CuO NSs were synthesized using the chemical bath method at 90 °C. The grown CuO NSs were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD).

► The petals and flowers like CuO NSs were synthesized at low temperature.
► Catalytic effect of CuO petals and flowers were examined using RB and MB dyes.
► CuO petals appear more active catalyst than flowers.
► RB was degraded faster compared to MB.