ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Synthesis and characterization of Cu decorated WO₃/TiO₂ for photocatalytic and antimicrobial applications

Nagesh Sarojini Devi, Rekha Pachaiappan, Ashish Kumar Nayak, Ameer Baig Ali Baig, Sasikala Velusamy, Thanikaikarasan Ramachandran, and Lorena Cornejo-Ponce

Department of Physics, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai, India

E-mail: rekha.ap@gmail.com

Received: 1 December 2025  Accepted: 6 April 2026

Abstract:

The presence of toxic industrial dyes and pathogenic microorganisms in water bodies poses a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems and human health due to their persistence and non-biodegradable nature. In this study, a copper-modified tungsten trioxide–titanium dioxide ternary nanocomposite (Cu@WO₃/TiO₂) was successfully synthesized via a simple chemical precipitation method to enhance visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance for wastewater treatment applications. The synthesized materials, including pure TiO₂, WO₃/TiO₂, and Cu@WO₃/TiO₂, were systematically characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–Vis DRS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to investigate their structural, optical, and morphological properties. The photocatalytic activity of the prepared catalysts was evaluated through the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye under light irradiation at an initial pH of 7.5. Radical scavenging experiments revealed that hydroxyl (^·OH) and superoxide (^·O₂⁻) radicals are the dominant reactive species responsible for the degradation process. In addition, the Cu@WO₃/TiO₂ nanocomposite exhibited effective antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. The enhanced photocatalytic and antimicrobial performance is attributed to improved interfacial charge separation within the ternary heterojunction system, demonstrating its potential as a multifunctional material for sustainable wastewater remediation.

Graphical abstract

Keywords: Cu-decorated WO₃/TiO₂; Heterojunction photocatalyst; Methylene blue degradation; Visible light photocatalysis; Antimicrobial activity; Charge separation

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-026-04888-1

Chemical Papers 80 (7) 8297–8316 (2026)