Efficient sunlight-driven degradation of methylene blue using hydrothermally synthesized copper oxide/zinc oxide hybrid composites

This study introduces a method for efficiently degrading methylene blue (MB) using sunlight and hydrothermally synthesized copper oxide (CuO) and CuO/ZnO hybrid composites. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the presence of monoclinic CuO and hexagonal ZnO phases, verifying successful composite formation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed spherical morphologies for the CuO/ZnO composites, indicating a controlled synthesis process. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) mapping showed balanced CuO and ZnO incorporation. BET surface area analysis indicated increased surface area for CuO/ZnO composites due to synergistic effects. Photocatalytic tests demonstrated that CuO/ZnO hybrids outperformed pure CuO, with enhanced degradation efficiency, narrower UV absorption peaks, and reduced band gap energy. The CuO/ZnO composites with a 30:50 ratio showed the highest degradation efficiency, emphasizing the significance of composition in photocatalytic performance. These results highlight the potential of CuO/ZnO hybrids for environmental remediation.