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Shape evolution, photoluminescence and degradation properties of novel Cu2O micro/nanostructures

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Abstract

Three kinds of novel cuprous oxide (Cu2O) micro/nanostructures are synthesized via a facile template-free hydrothermal method. Two factors are critical for the growth process of typical samples: the concentration of copper ions (Cu(II)) and the addition of Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as surfactant. It is found that the application of ethanol as solvent speeds up the reduction rate of Cu(II), and it promotes the aggregating of Cu2O nanocrystals at the preliminary stage to form irregular spherical structures. Photoluminescence (PL) properties of the three kinds of samples and their photocatalytic activities for degradation of Methyl Orange (MO) are also measured. The sample with higher concentration of copper vacancy (V Cu) defects has better photocatalytic ability, indicating that besides the morphology of Cu2O nano/microcrystals, the defects in crystalline structures can also influence their electrical characteristics, and thus change their photocatalytic activity. This provides a potential method to improve the photocatalytic performances of Cu2O crystals.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial support from the NSF of China (Grant Nos. 60976014, 60976004, and 11074075), the Key Basic Research Project of Scientific and Technology Committee of Shanghai (Grant No. 09DJ1400200), and the Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University (PCSIRT).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Polar Materials and Devices (Ministry of Education of China), Department of Electronic Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China

    Hui Shi, Ke Yu, Yang Wang & Ziqiang Zhu

  2. Department of Chemistry, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China

    Qingjiang Wang

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  1. Hui Shi
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  2. Ke Yu
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  3. Yang Wang
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  4. Qingjiang Wang
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  5. Ziqiang Zhu
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Correspondence to Ke Yu.

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Shi, H., Yu, K., Wang, Y. et al. Shape evolution, photoluminescence and degradation properties of novel Cu2O micro/nanostructures. Appl. Phys. A 108, 709–717 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-012-6954-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-012-6954-y

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