Insight into the role of copper in the promoted photocatalytic removal of NO using Zn2-xCuxCr-CO3 layered double hydroxide

In this work the ability of Zn2-xCuxCr-CO3 layered double hydroxides (LDHs) as highly efficient DeNOx photocatalysts was studied. LDHs with x = 0, 0.2 and 0.4 were prepared using a coprecipitation method. The samples characterized by different techniques such XRD, XPS, FT-IR, ICP-MS, TG, SBET, SEM Diffuse reflectance (DR). increased amount copper ions in LDH layers gave rise to slight changes structure morphology an important variation optical properties LDHs. ZnCuCr–CO3 exhibited favourable conversion efficiency (51%) extraordinary selectivity (97%) for photochemical NO abatement. mechanism elucidated from DOS, EPR, Femtosecond transient absorption in-situ DRIFTS studies. results suggested that presence Cu2+ framework introduced new states valence band states, thus favouring production mobility e?/h+ charge carriers greater ?O2? ?OH.