Improvement of the photocatalytic performance of ZnO thin films in the UV and sunlight range by Cu doping and additional coupling with Cu2O

Thin films of ZnO, Cu-doped Cu2O and binary Cu2O/Cu-doped ZnO p-n heterojunction thin film were prepared tested for their heterogeneous photocatalytic activity in the removal three selected organic dyes: methylene blue (MB), orange (MO) Congo red (CR). The experiments carried out under UV light natural sunlight. synthesis photocatalysts was by an electrochemical deposition method resulting characterized scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–Vis spectroscopy, impedance spectroscopy capacitance measurements (i.e., Mott-Schottky plots). Under illumination, results showed that degradation is first-order kinetics lifetime photogenerated electron-hole pairs increased Cu doping. combination allows construction a enhances process, as demonstrated dyes sunlight irradiation.