Controllable synthesis of Ag–CuO composite nanosheets with enhanced photocatalytic property

•Controllable synthesis of Ag–CuO composite nanosheets on a Cu foil.•Structure and optical properties of Ag–CuO composite nanosheets.•Enhanced photocatalytic property of Ag–CuO composite nanosheets, compared to pure CuO nanosheets.

Silver–copper oxide (Ag–CuO) composite nanosheets with Ag nanoparticles located along the surfaces of CuO nanosheets were synthesized via a facile low-cost solution method. The number of Ag nanoparticles grown on CuO nanosheets can be well controlled by tuning the reaction time. Structure, morphology and optical properties of the as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Additionally, photocatalytic performance of Ag–CuO composite nanosheets was evaluated in detail. The unique nanostructured composites showed a significant enhancement in the photocatalytic property in comparison to pure CuO as demonstrated in photodegradation of methyl orange (MO).