g-C 3 N 4 /Cu 2 O p−n junction composites with different crystal facets were prepared by a simple one-step route, which showed strong facetdependent photoactivity, where the degradation rate value k for 20% C 3 N 4 − Cu 2 O truncated cubes composites with {100} facets heterojunction was ∼2.5 times higher than that of pure Cu 2 O truncated cubes. Meanwhile, k value for 20% C 3 N 4 −Cu 2 O octahedra with {111} facets heterojunction exceeds that of pure Cu 2 O octahedra by a factor of ∼1.9. p−n heterojunctions with type II energy alignment are determined by XPS analysis. Larger band energy offset (0.96 eV for ΔE CBO , 1.73 eV for ΔE VBO ) was observed in 20% C 3 N 4 −Cu 2 O truncated cubes composites compared with that of 20% C 3 N 4 −Cu 2 O octahedra composites (0.85 eV for ΔE CBO , 1.64 eV for ΔE VBO ). The bigger band offset means stronger driving force of the electron transfer between Cu 2 O truncated cubes with {100} facets and C 3 N 4 , indicating band alignment of the heterojunction was facetdependent, the properly larger band offsets between Cu 2 O truncated cubes and C 3 N 4 result in the stronger driving force to the transfer of electron and hole in C 3 N 4 −Cu 2 O truncated cubes composites, which is beneficial to the photocatalytic performance. The study provides a new prospect for the rational design of highly efficient photocatalyst in terms of the facet-dependent composites. KEYWORDS: g-C 3 N 4 /Cu 2 O truncated cubes composites, C 3 N 4 −Cu 2 O octahedra composites, p−n heterojunctions, facet-dependent photoactivity, band offsets
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.