Issue 60, 2020

Cu2O as an emerging semiconductor in photocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic treatment of water contaminated with organic substances: a review

Abstract

A wide range of semiconductor photocatalysts have been used over the years in water treatment to eliminate toxic organic substances from wastewater. The quest for visible or solar light driven photocatalysts with striking merits such as wide range of applications, ease of preparation, tailored architecture that gives rise to improved performance, ability of dual existence as both p type or n type semiconductor, among others, presents copper(I) oxide as a promising photocatalyst. This paper reviews the recent applications of Cu2O in photocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic treatment of water laden with organic pollutants such as dyes and pharmaceuticals. It covers the various modes of synthesis, morphologies and composites or heterostructures of Cu2O as found in the literature. Concluding remarks and future perspectives on the application of Cu2O are presented.

Graphical abstract: Cu2O as an emerging semiconductor in photocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic treatment of water contaminated with organic substances: a review

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
08 Aug. 2020
Accepted
25 Sept. 2020
First published
05 Okt. 2020
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

RSC Adv., 2020,10, 36514-36525

Cu2O as an emerging semiconductor in photocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic treatment of water contaminated with organic substances: a review

B. A. Koiki and O. A. Arotiba, RSC Adv., 2020, 10, 36514 DOI: 10.1039/D0RA06858F

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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