Influence of Urbach energy in enhanced photocatalytic activity of Cu doped ZnO nanoparticles

This article reports the photocatalytic activity of Copper doped Zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized using a simple co-precipitation method. The samples synthesized were characterized by XRD, FESEM, nitrogen surface area analysis, UV–Vis spectroscopy and photoluminescence studies. XRD investigations have confirmed the formation of the wurtzite phase. The direct bandgap of the material has been obtained by UV–vis absorption analysis and the bandgap narrowing is observed. Room temperature photoluminescence studies at an excitation wavelength of 330 nm show emission in the UV and visible regions. Furthermore, to estimate the photocatalytic activity of the prepared sample, the degradation activity against methyl orange dye has been investigated successfully. Cu doped samples show a better photocatalytic activity than the pure ZnO sample and the contribution of Urbach energy in photocatalytic activity has been discussed.