Abstract Copper oxide (CuO) is a heterogeneous catalyst applied with success in several systems like vegetable oils transesterifications. The Ce-dopoing CuO is a promisor material with a potential improve catalysis performances. In this work, CuO and Ce-doping CuO were synthesized by the microwave hydrothermal method in only 5 min at low temperature (100 oC) without templates or other petroleum dependent organic substances, using only copper and cerium nitrates and sodium hydroxide as a precursors. Both materials were applied as photocatalysts for the degradation of remazol golden yellow dye (RNL). X-ray diffraction analysis showed that CuO and Ce-doped CuO has monoclic copper oxide structure without secondary phases. SEM analysis showed the Ce-doping full modify the CuO powder morphology. The dye RNL degradation rate of Ce-doping CuO was bigger than pure CuO and the expensive CeO2.

CuO structures were synthesized by microwave hydrothermal treatment using two different mineralizing agents (NaOH and NH4OH) and were evaluated as photocatalysts. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis. The XRD patterns indicated the formation of the monoclinic phase in both samples with 13.78 and 14.23 nm crystallite size. SEM analysis showed different agglomerates morphologies based on the mineralization agent employed. The CuO nanostructure synthesized with NH4OH presented agglomerated like-plates which results in a spherical shape, whereas the material synthesized with NaOH presented an agglomerate of larger plates. Both samples showed photocatalytic activity against RNL azo dye. The quasi-spherical shape CuO material reached 93 % of the discoloration.

In the last ten years, stannates with perovskite structure have been tested as photocatalysts. In spite of the ability of perovskite materials to accommodate different cations in its structure, evaluation of doped stannates is not a common task in the photocatalysis area. In this work, Fe3+ doped BaSnO3 was synthesized by the modified Pechini method, with calcination between 300 and 800ºC/4 h. The powder precursor was characterized by thermogravimetry after partial elimination of carbon. Characterization after the second calcination step was done by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and UV-visible spectroscopy. Materials were tested in the photocatalytic discoloration of the Remazol Golden Yellow azo dye under UVC irradiation. Higher photocatalytic efficiency was observed under acid media. As no meaningful adsorption was observed at this condition we believe that an indirect mechanism prevails. Fe3+ doping decreased the band gap and favored the photocatalytic reaction, which may be assigned to the formation of intermediate levels inside the band gap.