Novel cobalt oxide-copper hexacyanoferrate (Co3O4-CuHCF) composite for efficient and stable solar-light driven photocatalysis

Rapid industrial development has led to a significant increase in the discharge of industrial wastewater containing organic dyes into natural water bodies, causing great environmental concerns. Photocatalysis, specifically utilizing Metal Hexacyanoferrates (MHCFs), shows great potential for solar-driven dye degradation. Combining MHCFs with metal oxide, such as Copper Hexacyanoferrate (CuHCF) with Cobalt Oxide (Co3O4) is current focus for boosting dye degradation efficiency. The Co3O4-CuHCF composite has demonstrated significantly improved photocatalytic behavior 97% MB dye degradation in just 90 min. The interconnection between CuHCF nanoparticles and Co3O4 sheets promotes the transfer of photogenerated electrons, which leads to improved charge separation and, consequently, enhanced photocatalytic efficiency. Furthermore, the Co3O4-CuHCF photocatalyst retains its efficiency for up to six cycles, indicating its potential as a stable solution for treating polluted water resources.