Photocatalytic degradation of crystal violet dye on the novel CuCr2O4/SnO2 hetero-system under sunlight

• Published in: Optik (Stuttgart) 2020-10, Vol.219, p.165042, Article 165042
• Main Authors: Lahmar, H., Benamira, M., Douafer, S., Akika, F.Z., Hamdi, M., Avramova, I., Trari, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cristal violet; Hetero-system CuCr2O4/SnO2; Photocatalysis; Solar light
• ISSN: 0030-4026; 1618-1336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijleo.2020.165042

•New hetero-system CuCr2O4/SnO2was used for Crystal Violet dye degradation under solar irradiation.•The degradation of CV (15 mg/L) is quasi total after 90 min.•The mechanism for the enhanced photocatalytic performance was investigated.•CV degradation obeys a pseudo-first-order kinetics. We report the study of the physicochemical properties of the spinel CuCr2O4 and its photoactive effect with the hetero-system CuCr2O4/SnO2. The spinel CuCr2O4 presents a direct gap (Eg) of 1.39 eV, a stable behavior against photo-corrosion and a cathodic photocurrent which characteristic of type p conduction in conformity with the chrono-amperometric profile. The flat band potential (Vfb = −0.27 VSCE) was determined from the capacitance measurement. At natural pH, the degradation of CV (15 mg/L) is quasi total with CuCr2O4/SnO2 under sunlight after 90 min. CV degradation obeys pseudo-first-order kinetics with an apparent constant 0.012 min−1.