Wet-chemical synthesis of urchin-like Co-doped CuO: A visible light trigger photocatalyst for water remediation and antimicrobial applications

The semiconductive material must have a large surface area and a visible light active bandgap in order to be selected for photocatalytic applications. Herein, we fabricate an urchin-like CoxCu1-xO photocatalyst with a visible light-triggered bandgap and high surficial properties using nanotechnology, doping, and chemical activation approaches. X-ray diffraction and optical analysis revealed that the CoxCu1-xO sample possesses a high porosity (%) and a visible light active bandgap (1.59 eV). Furthermore, the CoxCu1-xO sample showed greater electrical conductivity than the pristine CuO photocatalyst, which positively influenced the kinetics of the photocatalysis process. The antibacterial and photocatalytic performances of the synthesized materials have been investigated and compared by employing bacterial strains and organic pollutants (Methylene-blue), respectively. The results of the antibacterial assay, conducted on Escherichia coli (E.coli), showed that the CoxCu1-xO sample possessed excellent antibacterial activity. Concerning the photocatalytic activity, we noted that among the doped and undoped materials tested for their Methylene-blue degradation capacity, the CoxCu1-xO catalyst demonstrated outstanding activity with a removal efficiency of 92.6% over 90 min. In contrast, the pristine CuO showed comparatively poor performance, with a removal efficiency of merely 53.75%. The superior photocatalytic activity observed in the case of CoxCu1-xO was attributed to its enhanced surface area, porous surface, good electronic conductivity, lower bandgap, and nanoarchitecture. Our study points towards a potential strategy for preparing a simple and efficient photocatalyst to mineralize dye and kill pathogenic microbes.