Modulating Direct Growth of Copper Cobaltite Nanostructure on Copper Mesh as a Hierarchical Catalyst of Oxone Activation for Efficient Elimination of Azo Toxicant.

As cobalt (Co) has been the most useful element for activating Oxone to generate SO, this study aims to develop a hierarchical catalyst with nanoscale functionality and macroscale convenience by decorating nanoscale Co-based oxides on macroscale supports. Specifically, a facile protocol is proposed by utilizing Cu mesh itself as a Cu source for fabricating CuCoO on Cu mesh. By changing the dosages of the Co precursor and carbamide, various nanostructures of CuCoO grown on a Cu mesh can be afforded, including nanoscale needles, flowers, and sheets. Even though the Cu mesh itself can be also transformed to a Cu-Oxide mesh, the growth of CuCoO on the Cu mesh significantly improves its physical, chemical, and electrochemical properties, making these CuCoO@Cu meshes much more superior catalysts for activating Oxone to degrade the Azo toxicant, Acid Red 27. More interestingly, the flower-like CuCoO@Cu mesh exhibits a higher specific surface area and more superior electrochemical performance, enabling the flower-like CuCoO@Cu mesh to show the highest catalytic activity for Oxone activation to degrade Acid Red 27. The flower-like CuCoO@Cu mesh also exhibits a much lower of Acid Red 27 degradation than the reported catalysts. These results demonstrate that CuCoO@Cu meshes are advantageous heterogeneous catalysts for Oxone activation, and especially, the flower-like CuCoO@Cu mesh appears as the most effective CuCoO@Cu mesh to eliminate the toxic Acid Red 27.