Yogyakarta — A student team from Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY), through the 2026 Student Creativity Program for Exact Science Research (PKM-RE), is developing a Cu₂O/CuO@TiO₂ nanocomposite based on copper cable waste using key lime peel extract as a green synthesis approach. The research aims to develop a photocatalytic material that can be utilized for the photodegradation of batik dye wastewater.
The 2026 PKM-RE team is led by Ria Amelia (Bachelor’s Program in Physics, 2023), with members Martin Imanuel Panjaitan (Bachelor’s Program in Physics, 2024), Sekar Samuso Jati (Bachelor’s Program in Physics, 2023), Nandari Ainandita (Bachelor’s Program in Chemistry, 2023), and Isnaini Laila Azizah (Bachelor’s Program in Biology, 2023). The research is supervised by Riza Ariyani Nur Khasanah, S.Pd., M.Sc., Ph.D., a lecturer in the Bachelor’s Program in Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, UNY.
This research utilizes copper cable waste as a Cu-based material source and key lime peel as a source of bioactive compounds in the synthesis process. The resulting Cu₂O/CuO@TiO₂ nanocomposite is then investigated for its potential as a photocatalytic material to degrade organic dye compounds in batik wastewater through photodegradation.

The development of this waste-based material is expected not only to provide an environmentally friendly alternative for wastewater treatment technology but also to promote the application of green synthesis and the conversion of waste into value-added materials.
Through PKM-RE 2026, the UNY student team seeks to integrate materials research, waste utilization, and environmental problem-solving into an innovation with the potential to support sustainable batik wastewater management.
To follow the research progress and activities of the 2026 PKM-RE team, follow the Instagram account @PKM-RE_Cucitrox.