Synthesis, characterization and its photocatalytic of copper oxide (Cuo) powder

Abstract

© 2019 Trans Tech Publications Ltd, Switzerland. In this research, copper oxide (CuO) powder was successfully synthesized by microwave method. Copper acetate and sodium hydroxide were used as the starting precursors. The microwave power was annealed at 600-800 Watt for 6 min. The fine black powder was obtained, milled and dried at 80 °C for 12 h. The structure was identified by X-ray diffractometer (XRD). A monoclinic single phase was obtained without calcination steps. The morphology was investigated by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The particle was irregular in shape and agglomerated. The chemical composition was determined by energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDXS). The chemical compositions showed the characteristic X-ray energy of copper (Cu, Lα = 0.929 keV) and oxygen (O, Kα = 0.525 keV). The functional group was investigated by fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR). The functional groups of the vibration Cu-O bending showed the wavenumber at 514-615 cm-1. The degradation of methylene blue (MB) over CuO powder was studied by ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer (UV-Vis). The highest percentage of MB degradation for CuO powder annealed at 800 Watt for 6 min was about 33.72.