Impact of CuO incorporation on the photocatalytic enhancement of the mesostructured Fe2O3 nanocomposite

Ciprofloxacin Electrochemical Sensor Using Copper-Iron Mixed Metal Oxides Nanoparticles/Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite

The harmful effects of antibiotic proliferation on the environment and its persistent nature are urgent global problems. Ciprofloxacin (CIP) is a fluoroquinolone-class antibiotic agent used widely to treat pathogen-related diseases in humans and animals. Its excretion into surface water causes antibiotic resistance in microbes, resulting in difficult-to-treat or untreatable infectious diseases. This study developed a simple and efficient electrochemical sensor to detect CIP. Hydrothermal chemistry was utilized to synthesize an electrophotocatalytic composite of copper-iron mixed metal oxides (CIMMO) on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) (CIMMO/rGO). The composite was employed in an electrochemical sensor and exhibited outstanding performance in detecting CIP. The sensor was operated in differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) mode under light source illumination. The sensor yielded a linear response in the concentration range of 0.75 × 10-9-1.0 × 10-7 mol L-1 CIP and showed a limit of detection (LOD) of 4.74 × 10-10 mol L-1. The excellent sensing performance of the composite is attributable to the synergic effects between CIMMO nanoparticles and rGO, which facilitate photoinduced electron-hole separation and assist in the indirect electrochemical reactions/interactions with CIP.

Synergistic Effect of Iron and Copper Oxides in the Removal of Organic Dyes Through Thermal Induced Catalytic Degradation Process

This study proposes a new method for producing α-Fe2O3–CuO nanocatalyst that is both cost-effective and ecologically benign. The α-Fe2O3–CuO nanocomposite was prepared via moderate thermal oxidative decomposition of copper hexacyanoferrate. Its structure and surface morphology are affirmed via XRD, SEM, FTIR, EDX, TEM, XPS, and VSM. In the presence of H2O2, α-Fe2O3–CuO is employed as a heterogeneous catalyst to stimulate thermally induced degradation of dyes such as direct violet 4, rhodamine b, and methylene blue. The synergistic effect of Fe2O3 and CuO enhanced the catalytic activity of the nanocomposite compared to Fe2O3 and CuO separately. The effectiveness of DV4 degradation is optimized by evaluating multiple reaction parameters. The reaction rate increased substantially with the temperature, revealing its key role in the degradation process. Higher H2O2 levels and the inclusion of inorganic anions like chloride or nitrate also sped up the degradation process. While sulfate and humic acid, particularly at high doses, slowed it. The mechanism of H2O2 activation on α-Fe2O3–CuO is studied. The measurements of chemical oxygen demand and total organic carbon indicate that all dyes are highly mineralized. The remarkable performance and stability of this nanocomposite in removing diverse dyes render it a promising option for wastewater remedy.

Copper Oxide-Based Photocatalysts and Photocathodes: Fundamentals and Recent Advances

This work aims at reviewing the most impactful results obtained on the development of Cu-based photocathodes. The need of a sustainable exploitation of renewable energy sources and the parallel request of reducing pollutant emissions in airborne streams and in waters call for new technologies based on the use of efficient, abundant, low-toxicity and low-cost materials. Photoelectrochemical devices that adopts abundant element-based photoelectrodes might respond to these requests being an enabling technology for the direct use of sunlight to the production of energy fuels form water electrolysis (H2) and CO2 reduction (to alcohols, light hydrocarbons), as well as for the degradation of pollutants. This review analyses the physical chemical properties of Cu2O (and CuO) and the possible strategies to tune them (doping, lattice strain). Combining Cu with other elements in multinary oxides or in composite photoelectrodes is also discussed in detail. Finally, a short overview on the possible applications of these materials is presented.