Highly efficient CuO loaded TiO2 nanotube photocatalyst for CO2 photoconversion

Abstract Copper oxide (CuO) loaded titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotube photocatalyst was synthesised using the facile hydrothermal method. The synthesised photocatalyst were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to study their physiochemical properties. The photocatalytic activity of the photocatalysts was tested for carbon dioxide (CO2) photoconversion into fuels. CuO loaded TiO2 nanotube demonstrated higher CO2 conversion (100%) than TiO2 nanotube (72.20%) because of the former’s effective separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs in the presence of CuO.