Hydrothermal Fabrication of Surfactant‐Free CuO/CdO Hybrid Composites With Enhanced Sunlight‐Induced Photocatalytic Activity

ABSTRACT

CuO/CdO hybrid composites were synthesized via a surfactant‐ and template‐free hydrothermal route to investigate the role of oxide–oxide integration in sunlight‐driven photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants. Structural and phase evolution of the hybrid system were confirmed by X‐ray diffraction, while Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and electron microscopy revealed successful hybridization and distinct morphological features arising from CuO–CdO interaction. The photocatalytic performance was evaluated using methylene blue as a model pollutant under simulated solar irradiation. Compared to pristine CuO, the CuO/CdO hybrid composites exhibited enhanced degradation efficiency, which is attributed to improved interfacial charge separation induced by p–n heterojunction formation rather than surface adsorption effects alone. The study establishes a clear correlation between synthesis strategy, structural integration, and photocatalytic activity, and demonstrates that controlled CuO/CdO hybridization achieved through a simple and scalable hydrothermal process can effectively improve sunlight‐assisted photocatalytic performance. These findings provide insight into the rational design of oxide‐based hybrid photocatalysts for environmental remediation applications.