Efficient photo catalytic degradation of methyl orange over Ag–CuO nanostructures grown on copper foil under visible light irradiation

A novel and efficient photo catalyst was synthesized for the photo degradation of methyl orange. CuO nanostructures were grown on copper foil as substrate via a simple cost-effective wet-chemical route and used as templates for making silver-deposited CuO samples. Silver were deposited over the surfaces of CuO nanostructures through a photochemical deposition process. The resulting samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer methods. SEM images show formation of film containing sheet-like structures with thickness of about 20–50 nm and nanorod-like structures with the diameter and length of 40–70 and 100–500 nm, respectively. The photo-catalytic activity of samples was evaluated by monitoring the photo-degradation of methyl orange. Results demonstrated that the rate of degradation of the silver-deposited CuO sample was more than 4.4 times faster than pure CuO nanostructures. The Ag–CuO catalysts prepared in this study exhibit industrially relevant interests due to the low cost, high photo catalytic activity and high stability.