Keywords
CuWO4
heterostructure
synthesis
photocatalysis
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Abstract
A comparative study of the structural, morphological, and optical properties of the CuO/CuWO₄ heterostructure, and of the individual oxides, is presented. Initially, a semi-quantitative structural analysis revealed the formation of CuO and CuWO₄ phases, respectively, for the individual oxides, and the presence of two phases: 67 % of CuO and 33 % of CuWO₄, for the heterostructure. The Rietveld refinement analysis found one, two, and three phases for the CuO, CuWO₄, and CuO/CuWO₄ samples, respectively. The lattice parameters determined were consistent, despite the presence of secondary phases in two of the samples. On the other hand, different morphologies were determined for the three analysis samples: thin sheets for the CuO, well-defined grains for the CuWO₄, and well-defined grains covering polyhedral for the heterostructure. Additionally, gap energies were determined: 1.33 eV indirect gap for the CuO and 2.90 eV direct gap for CuWO₄. A value of direct gap energy equivalent to 2.66 eV and two values of indirect gap energy equivalent to 1.35 and 2.11 eV were established for the CuO/CuWO₄ heterostructure, which confirmed the production of the heterostructure. Finally, the three samples were tested in a simple photocatalytic degradation process under UV light in a photoreactor with UV lamps of 15 W, at a maximum intensity of 254 nm, and an operating temperature of 20 °C. The heterostructure exhibited better performance compared to the individual response of the oxides, with a photocatalytic degradation rate constant of 1,6×10⁻³ min⁻¹.
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