Extensive solar light utilizing by ternary C-dots/Cu2O/SrTiO3: Highly enhanced photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics and inactivation of E. coli

A Review on Cu2O-Based Composites in Photocatalysis: Synthesis, Modification, and Applications

Photocatalysis technology has the advantages of being green, clean, and environmentally friendly, and has been widely used in CO₂ reduction, hydrolytic hydrogen production, and the degradation of pollutants in water. Cu₂O has the advantages of abundant reserves, a low cost, and environmental friendliness. Based on the narrow bandgap and strong visible light absorption ability of Cu₂O, Cu₂O-based composite materials show infinite development potential in photocatalysis. However, in practical large-scale applications, Cu₂O-based composites still pose some urgent problems that need to be solved, such as the high composite rate of photogenerated carriers, and poor photocatalytic activity. This paper introduces a series of Cu₂O-based composites, based on recent reports, including pure Cu₂O and Cu₂O hybrid materials. The modification strategies of photocatalysts, critical physical and chemical parameters of photocatalytic reactions, and the mechanism for the synergistic improvement of photocatalytic performance are investigated and explored. In addition, the application and photocatalytic performance of Cu₂O-based photocatalysts in CO₂ photoreduction, hydrogen production, and water pollution treatment are discussed and evaluated. Finally, the current challenges and development prospects are pointed out, to provide guidance in applying Cu₂O-based catalysts in renewable energy utilization and environmental protection.

Panax notoginseng powder -assisted preparation of carbon-quantum-dots/BiOCl with enriched oxygen vacancies and boosted photocatalytic performance

Low activity of photocatalysts is a serious bottleneck to the practical application of photocatalytic technology. In this paper, a series of BiOCl composite photocatalysts containing carbon quantum dots (CQDs) were successfully prepared by adding Panax notoginseng powder (PNP) to the solvothermal synthesis system of BiOCl as a template agent and a raw material for 0D CQDs. CQDs/BiOCl exhibit 2D flake structures and 3D flower-like microspheres self-assembled from thin flakes, holding rich oxygen vacancies (OVs). After detailed characterization, it was found that the amount of OVs on BiOCl could be regulated according to the amount of PNP added. The CQDs/OVs-BiOCl photocatalysts exhibit higher photogenerated charge separation efficiency and photocatalytic activity than the bare BiOCl. When the mass ratio of PNP/BiOCl is 1.0%, the photocatalyst demonstrates the maximum degradation activity for rhodamine B (RhB) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). In view of the solid observations, a photocatalytic enhancement mechanism of CQDs/BiOCl was elucidated.