Electrochemical Synthesis of Cu <sub>2</sub> O Nanoparticles for Photocatalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange
Аннотация
ABSTRACT Copper(I) oxide nanoparticles (Cu 2 O NPs) were synthesized via an electrochemical method using sodium citrate, sodium chloride, and copper electrodes. The physicochemical properties of the Cu 2 O‐NPs were characterized using various analytical techniques such as x‐ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and UV–Visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis). The photocatalytic activity of the Cu 2 O‐NPs was assessed by monitoring the removal of methyl orange (MO) from aqueous solution under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation. The results demonstrated exhibited high photocatalytic activity toward MO degradation under UV irradiation, achieving 99.45% removal within 160 min with a rate constant of 0.03713 min −1 . In addition to evaluating their photocatalytic properties, we also examined the antibacterial activity of Cu 2 O NPs using the agar diffusion method against Gram‐positive bacteria ( Bacillus subtilis , Penicillium sp.) and the nematode Ditylenchus dipsaci . Reactive molecular dynamics simulations elucidated molecular degradation mechanisms, providing nanoscale insights into MO breakdown. These findings underscore Cu 2 O‐NPs’ potential as efficient photocatalysts for environmental remediation.