Solvothermal synthesis of truncated octahedron Cu2O and their catalytic applications on the degradation of methylene blue

Cu₂O photocatalyst is synthesized by solvothermal method. Morphology and structure of Cu₂O photocatalyst are analyzed by SEM, XRD and N₂ sorption technique. The catalytic performances and reaction kinetics of Cu₂O photocatalyst for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) are investigated. The toxicity effect of Cu₂O photocatalyst on yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is also studied. The results show pure Cu₂O photocatalyst with truncated octahedron morphology is obtained and demonstrates good potential on degradation of MB. The degree of MB degradation is improved significantly in the presence of H₂O₂, and the optimum H₂O₂ concentration is 1.3 wt%. The degradation rate constant decreases as the initial MB concentration increases, and the degradation reaction can be represented by pseudo-first-order kinetics model. Cu₂O photocatalyst shows a good reusability and slight limited growth rate of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, suggesting it can serve as an effective and recyclable photocatalyst.