Morphology-controlled electrodeposition of Cu{sub 2}O microcrystalline particle films for application in photocatalysis under sunlight

Journal Article · Sat Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2012 · Materials Research Bulletin

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATERRESBULL.2012.08.067· OSTI ID:22215650

Wu, Guodong; Zhai, Wei ^[1]; Sun, Fengqiang ^[1]; Chen, Wei; Pan, Zizhao; Li, Weishan ^[1]

---

1. School of Chemistry and Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006 (China)

Graphical abstract: Display Omitted Highlights: ► PEG was used to electro-deposit Cu{sub 2}O microcrystalline particle films. ► Morphologies of Cu{sub 2}O microcrystals could be controlled by the amount of PEG. ► The films showed regularly varied photocatalytic activities under sunlight. ► The films could be recycled and showed stable activities. -- Abstract: Morphology-controlled Cu{sub 2}O microcrystalline particle films had been successfully electrodeposited on tin-doped indium oxide glass substrates in CuSO{sub 4} solutions containing different amounts of polyethylene glycol (PEG) additives. With an increase of PEG, microcrystals gradually changed from irregular shapes to cubes, octahedrons, and spherical shapes. Sizes increasingly became smaller with an increase of PEG under the same deposition time. These films had been first used as recyclable photocatalysts and showed excellent and photocatalytic activities in photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) under sunlight. Activities were regularly varied relative to the morphologies of films controlled by the amount of PEG and could be further enhanced by adding a little amount of hydrogen peroxide in the MB solution. The method for controllable preparation of Cu{sub 2}O microcrystals with photocatalytic activities was simple and inexpensive. The as-prepared particle films could also be used in photodegradation of many other pollutants under sunlight.

• OSTI ID: 22215650
• Journal Information: Materials Research Bulletin, Vol. 47, Issue 12; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2012 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0025-5408
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
COPPER OXIDES
COPPER SULFATES
CRYSTAL GROWTH
DEPOSITS
DOPED MATERIALS
ELECTRODEPOSITION
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
INDIUM OXIDES
METHYLENE BLUE
PHOTOCATALYSIS
POLYETHYLENE GLYCOLS
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SUBSTRATES
THIN FILMS