Wireless Photoelectrochemical Degradation of Methylene Blue Dye Using a NiCo2O4/Cu Photoelectrode

Dumping of dye pollutants into the environment and its adverse/carcinogenic impact on living organisms is a serious concern for human societies that needs to be resolved by employing a promising sustainable route using a renewable clean energy source. Concerning this green strategy, herein, we demonstrate how using a Schottky junction photoelectrode [NCO/Cu; nickel cobaltite oxide deposited on a copper substrate], methylene blue (MB) [being normally employed as a model dye pollutant in the literature] could be effectively photo-degraded without needing to consume electricity, just by illumination of the setup [photoreactor]. The investigations showed that a significant degradation of dye can be achieved at short illumination periods, particularly in the presence of O2, serving as an auxiliary traditional oxidizing agent. The photo-degradation phenomenon was discussed in detail from a physicochemical mechanistic perspective, based on the photogeneration of e/h pairs upon the semiconductor surface