Preparation and sonocatalytic activity of monodisperse porous bread-like CuO via thermal decomposition of copper oxalate precursors

Porous bread-like CuO have been obtained via the thermal decomposition of copper oxalate precursor synthesized by the room temperature reaction of Cu(NO3)2 with Na2C2O4 in water. These bread-like CuO with the monoclinic structure are well dispersed with good monodispersity, their diameters are about 1.5 μm. The sonocatalytic activity of porous CuO for the degradation of acid scarlet dye was studied. It was found that the as-prepared porous CuO nanostructures exhibit efficient sonocatalytic ability for the degradation of acid scarlet dye in the presence of H2O2, which are expected to be useful in the treatment of non- or low-transparent wastewaters.

Graphical abstractPorous CuO have been obtained via the thermal decomposition of copper oxalate. The CuO nanostructures exhibit efficient sonocatalytic ability in the presence of H2O2.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Uniform porous bread-like CuO were obtained via heating copper oxalate precursors. ► The CuO bread-like structures have a diameter of about 1.5 μm. ► They are polycrystalline CuO with the monoclinic structures. ► The bread-like CuO exhibits a good sonocatalytic activity in the presence of H2O2. ► The sonocatalytic degradation of organic compounds over CuO was reported firstly.