Preparation of Hollow Pencil-like Y2O3/Cu2O Heterojunction Structure and Photocatalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange

A B S T R A C T Photocatalysis is gaining increasing attention due to its potential applications in various fields and simple, environmentally friendly production technologies. In this study, hollow pencil-like Y 2 O 3 was synthesized using a hydrothermal method, and Cu 2 O was coated onto the surface of Y 2 O 3 through a chemical precipitation method, resulting in a hollow pencil-like Y 2 O 3 /Cu 2 O composite heterojunction structure. The hollow pencil-like morphology provides a larger specific surface area, and the inherent band offset facilitates the spatial separation of photogenerated carriers. The Y 2 O 3 /Cu 2 O composite material was used as a catalyst to degrade methyl orange (MO) under xenon lamp irradiation, achieving a degradation efficiency of over 95% within 2 hours. After five cycles, the photocatalytic efficiency remained above 80%, indicating that the material exhibits high photocatalytic activity and good stability. Moreover, studies demonstrate that the Y 2 O 3 /Cu 2 O composite material exhibits superior photocatalytic efficiency compared to Cu 2 O particles, providing valuable insights for future research in related fields.