Silica supported WO3/Cu2O heterostructured nanoparticles for photocatalytic degradation of hormones

Abstract

In this study, a WO3/Cu2O based heterojunction was synthesized via a facile solvothermal method. The as-prepared nanocomposite was characterized by XRD, SEM, and UV-vis spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared heterojunction was evaluated by the means of estradiol (E2) and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) hormone degradation under UV LED illumination wavelength at λmax~ 365 nm. The degradation results showed that the prepared photocatalyst was able to achieve considerable photoactivity owing to the intrinsic heterojunction charge transfer mechanism. Photocatalytic degradation rates of 27 and 35 % were achieved for the E2 and EE2 hormones, respectively.