Cu-doped ZnO nanoparticles and its application for the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B

Rhodamine B (RhB), a dye with high environmental pollution risks, necessitates effective degradation strategies for environmental protection. Photocatalytic degradation technology offers a viable solution to mitigate such pollution, with ZnO being extensively utilized in dye degradation due to its excellent ultraviolet (UV) photocatalytic performance. In this study, Cu-doped ZnO nanoparticles were successfully synthesized via a facile method. When the Cu doping level was 0.5%, the material exhibited remarkable photocatalytic activity under UV irradiation, achieving complete RhB degradation within 2 h (degradation efficiency up to 100%). The physical and chemical properties of the material were systematically analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results indicated that Cu incorporation did not alter the crystallinity of ZnO but significantly enhanced its light response capability. Based on the experimental results of UV-catalyzed RhB solution degradation, the photocatalytic mechanism of Cu-doped ZnO was thoroughly investigated, providing theoretical insights and technical support for the development of high-efficiency photocatalysts for dye degradation.