Sustainable, efficient, and synergistic photocatalytic degradation toward organic dyes and formaldehyde gas via Cu2O NPs@wood

Cuprous oxide (Cu2O) nanoparticles (NPs) was anchored on wood by simple spraying method, then both soft and hard wood has been endowed efficient function photocatalytic degradation toward organic dyes and formaldehyde gas synergistically. The best recycle ability of wood based photocatalyst toward organic pollutants was achieved, which was characterized by photocatalytic degradation efficiency of methylene blue (MB) more than 95% after 100 cycles, and formaldehyde gas over 85% after 60 cycles. Cu2O NPs@wood performed much lower forbidden bandwidth (Eg), which accelerated to generate much more radical of e− and finally promoted the capacity of photocatalytic degradation. The proposed Cu2O NPs@wood catalysts has potential to be applied both in the field of wastewater and air pollution remediation. [Display omitted] •Cu2O NPs@wood photocatalytic degrade organic dyes & formaldehyde gas synergistically.•The best recycle ability of 100 & 60 cycles to MB & formaldehyde gas was achieved.•Facile spray coating technique offers practical and widespread applicability.