UV-Vis Activated Cu<sub>2</sub>O/SnO<sub>2</sub>/WO<sub>3</sub> Heterostructure for Photocatalytic Removal of Pesticides
A three-steps sol–gel method was used to obtain a Cu<sub>2</sub>O/SnO<sub>2</sub>/WO<sub>3</sub> heterostructure powder, deposited as film by spray pyrolysis. The porous morphology of the final heterostructure was constructed starting with fiber-like WO<sub>...
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/12/15/2648 |
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| author | Alexandru Enesca Luminita Andronic |
| author_facet | Alexandru Enesca Luminita Andronic |
| author_sort | Alexandru Enesca |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A three-steps sol–gel method was used to obtain a Cu<sub>2</sub>O/SnO<sub>2</sub>/WO<sub>3</sub> heterostructure powder, deposited as film by spray pyrolysis. The porous morphology of the final heterostructure was constructed starting with fiber-like WO<sub>3</sub> acting as substrate for SnO<sub>2</sub> development. The SnO<sub>2</sub>/WO<sub>3</sub> sample provide nucleation and grew sites for Cu<sub>2</sub>O formation. Diffraction evaluation indicated that all samples contained crystalline structures with crystallite size varying from 42.4 Å (Cu<sub>2</sub>O) to 81.8 Å (WO<sub>3</sub>). Elemental analysis confirmed that the samples were homogeneous in composition and had an oxygen excess due to the annealing treatments. Photocatalytic properties were tested in the presence of three pesticides—pirimicarb, S-metolachlor (S-MCh), and metalaxyl (MET)—chosen based on their resilience and toxicity. The photocatalytic activity of the Cu<sub>2</sub>O/SnO<sub>2</sub>/WO<sub>3</sub> heterostructure was compared with WO<sub>3</sub>, SnO<sub>2</sub>, Cu<sub>2</sub>O, Cu<sub>2</sub>O/SnO<sub>2</sub>, Cu<sub>2</sub>O/WO<sub>3</sub>, and SnO<sub>2</sub>/WO<sub>3</sub> samples. The results indicated that the three-component heterostructure had the highest photocatalytic efficiency toward all pesticides. The highest photocatalytic efficiency was obtained toward S-MCh (86%) using a Cu<sub>2</sub>O/SnO<sub>2</sub>/WO<sub>3</sub> sample and the lowest correspond to MET (8.2%) removal using a Cu<sub>2</sub>O monocomponent sample. TOC analysis indicated that not all the removal efficiency could be attributed to mineralization, and by-product formation is possible. Cu<sub>2</sub>O/SnO<sub>2</sub>/WO<sub>3</sub> is able to induce 81.3% mineralization of S-MCh, while Cu<sub>2</sub>O exhibited 5.7% mineralization of S-MCh. The three-run cyclic tests showed that Cu<sub>2</sub>O/SnO<sub>2</sub>/WO<sub>3</sub>, WO<sub>3</sub>, and SnO<sub>2</sub>/WO<sub>3</sub> exhibited good photocatalytic stability without requiring additional procedures. The photocatalytic mechanism corresponds to a Z-scheme charge transfer based on a three-component structure, where Cu<sub>2</sub>O exhibits reduction potential responsible for O<sub>2</sub> production and WO<sub>3</sub> has oxidation potential responsible for HO· generation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:06:10Z |
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| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:06:10Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-124ee0528745448fb63c6fcd2ac6d1282023-12-01T23:04:36ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912022-08-011215264810.3390/nano12152648UV-Vis Activated Cu<sub>2</sub>O/SnO<sub>2</sub>/WO<sub>3</sub> Heterostructure for Photocatalytic Removal of PesticidesAlexandru Enesca0Luminita Andronic1Product Design, Mechatronics and Environmental Department, Transilvania University of Brasov, Eroilor 29 Street, 35000 Brasov, RomaniaProduct Design, Mechatronics and Environmental Department, Transilvania University of Brasov, Eroilor 29 Street, 35000 Brasov, RomaniaA three-steps sol–gel method was used to obtain a Cu<sub>2</sub>O/SnO<sub>2</sub>/WO<sub>3</sub> heterostructure powder, deposited as film by spray pyrolysis. The porous morphology of the final heterostructure was constructed starting with fiber-like WO<sub>3</sub> acting as substrate for SnO<sub>2</sub> development. The SnO<sub>2</sub>/WO<sub>3</sub> sample provide nucleation and grew sites for Cu<sub>2</sub>O formation. Diffraction evaluation indicated that all samples contained crystalline structures with crystallite size varying from 42.4 Å (Cu<sub>2</sub>O) to 81.8 Å (WO<sub>3</sub>). Elemental analysis confirmed that the samples were homogeneous in composition and had an oxygen excess due to the annealing treatments. Photocatalytic properties were tested in the presence of three pesticides—pirimicarb, S-metolachlor (S-MCh), and metalaxyl (MET)—chosen based on their resilience and toxicity. The photocatalytic activity of the Cu<sub>2</sub>O/SnO<sub>2</sub>/WO<sub>3</sub> heterostructure was compared with WO<sub>3</sub>, SnO<sub>2</sub>, Cu<sub>2</sub>O, Cu<sub>2</sub>O/SnO<sub>2</sub>, Cu<sub>2</sub>O/WO<sub>3</sub>, and SnO<sub>2</sub>/WO<sub>3</sub> samples. The results indicated that the three-component heterostructure had the highest photocatalytic efficiency toward all pesticides. The highest photocatalytic efficiency was obtained toward S-MCh (86%) using a Cu<sub>2</sub>O/SnO<sub>2</sub>/WO<sub>3</sub> sample and the lowest correspond to MET (8.2%) removal using a Cu<sub>2</sub>O monocomponent sample. TOC analysis indicated that not all the removal efficiency could be attributed to mineralization, and by-product formation is possible. Cu<sub>2</sub>O/SnO<sub>2</sub>/WO<sub>3</sub> is able to induce 81.3% mineralization of S-MCh, while Cu<sub>2</sub>O exhibited 5.7% mineralization of S-MCh. The three-run cyclic tests showed that Cu<sub>2</sub>O/SnO<sub>2</sub>/WO<sub>3</sub>, WO<sub>3</sub>, and SnO<sub>2</sub>/WO<sub>3</sub> exhibited good photocatalytic stability without requiring additional procedures. The photocatalytic mechanism corresponds to a Z-scheme charge transfer based on a three-component structure, where Cu<sub>2</sub>O exhibits reduction potential responsible for O<sub>2</sub> production and WO<sub>3</sub> has oxidation potential responsible for HO· generation.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/12/15/2648pesticideswastewaterphotocatalysismetal oxidessemiconductors |
| spellingShingle | Alexandru Enesca Luminita Andronic UV-Vis Activated Cu<sub>2</sub>O/SnO<sub>2</sub>/WO<sub>3</sub> Heterostructure for Photocatalytic Removal of Pesticides Nanomaterials pesticides wastewater photocatalysis metal oxides semiconductors |
| title | UV-Vis Activated Cu<sub>2</sub>O/SnO<sub>2</sub>/WO<sub>3</sub> Heterostructure for Photocatalytic Removal of Pesticides |
| title_full | UV-Vis Activated Cu<sub>2</sub>O/SnO<sub>2</sub>/WO<sub>3</sub> Heterostructure for Photocatalytic Removal of Pesticides |
| title_fullStr | UV-Vis Activated Cu<sub>2</sub>O/SnO<sub>2</sub>/WO<sub>3</sub> Heterostructure for Photocatalytic Removal of Pesticides |
| title_full_unstemmed | UV-Vis Activated Cu<sub>2</sub>O/SnO<sub>2</sub>/WO<sub>3</sub> Heterostructure for Photocatalytic Removal of Pesticides |
| title_short | UV-Vis Activated Cu<sub>2</sub>O/SnO<sub>2</sub>/WO<sub>3</sub> Heterostructure for Photocatalytic Removal of Pesticides |
| title_sort | uv vis activated cu sub 2 sub o sno sub 2 sub wo sub 3 sub heterostructure for photocatalytic removal of pesticides |
| topic | pesticides wastewater photocatalysis metal oxides semiconductors |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/12/15/2648 |
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