Preparation and characterization of CdWO4:Cu nanorods with enhanced photocatalytic performance under sunlight irradiation

Abstract

The objective of this work is to convert an ultraviolet active photocatalyst to a visible active photocatalyst and investigate the effect of copper (Cu²⁺) doping on the morphology and photocatalytic activity of CdWO₄. Efficient visible light driven Cu²⁺ doped CdWO₄ photocatalysts were successfully prepared by a hydrothermal method and characterized by various techniques. The XRD results revealed that CdWO₄ and Cu²⁺ doped CdWO₄ have crystallized in a monoclinic wolframite structure. The SEM images displayed nano rod like morphology and as the Cu²⁺ content is increased irregular structures were observed. The best photocatalytic activity was observed for Cd_0.95Cu_0.05WO₄ in the presence of H₂O₂ under sunlight irradiation and it was found to be 5 times more than that of pristine CdWO₄. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the Cu²⁺ doped CdWO₄ compositions leads to further improvement of the catalysts for environmental remediation.