Self-sacrificing template fabrication of mesoporous CuO micro/nanoplates for photo-Fenton-like oxidation of sulfathiazole.

[Display omitted] • Self-sacrificial template-directed method to prepare mesoporous CuO micro/nanoplates. • CuO plates are examined as a highly efficient photo-Fenton-like catalyst. • 100% sulfathiazole degradation and 87.3 % TOC removal under vis LED irradiation. • Excellent reusability up to the five cycles. In this study, we offer a simple self-sacrificial template-directed method to prepare mesoporous CuO micro/nanoplates by using copper hydroxide acetate (Cu 2 (OH) 3 (CH 3 COO)·H 2 O) plates as a template. The as-prepared material was structurally, morphologically, optically and texturally characterized and its excellent catalytic activity in the LED-driven photo-Fenton-like process of sulfathiazole oxidation was demonstrated. Within 90 min, 100 % sulfathiazole degradation and 87.3 % TOC removal were achieved in the presence of H 2 O 2 and visible LED irradiation. Moreover, the degradation of sulfathiazole can still reach 96.1 % after five cycles, which indicates exceptional performance of the catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]