Ionic liquid-assisted solvothermal synthesis of three-dimensional hierarchical copper sulfide microflowers at a low temperature with enhanced photocatalytic performance

Abstract

Three-dimension (3D) hierarchical copper sulfide (CuS) microflowers have been successfully constructed by a facile ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, [BMIm]Cl) assisted solvothermal method at low temperature (65 o C). The covellite CuS assembled by nanoflakes with the thickness of 8-10 nm and lateral dimension of about 700 nm were obtained by decomposition of intermediate complex Cu3(TAA)3Cl3 (thioacetamide, TAA) blocks. The ionic liquid (IL) could serve as solvent, ligand, and structure-directing agent, which played an important role on the morphologies of Cu3(TAA)3Cl3 and CuS. It is found that CuCl could be interacted with [BMIm]Cl, leading to the formation of [BMIm]CuCl2. Furthermore, the CuS crystal growth along <001> direction was inhibited by the absorption of alkylimidazolium rings ([BMIm] + ) on the (001) facets of CuS. The morphology and size of CuS was controllable by changing the concentration of [BMIm]Cl. Moreover, 3D hierarchical CuS microflowers used as photocatalyst showed enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity for degradation of methylene blue (MB), due to their large specific surface area, mesoporous structure, and advantageous optical properties. This synthetic method could be expanded to prepare other metal chalcogenides, owing to its simple and safe operation, mild reaction conditions, and low cost.

One-pot preparation of hierarchical Cu2O hollow spheres for improved visible-light photocatalytic properties

“…Over the years, large-scale architectures of micro-and nanostructured building components with specic morphology have always been of interest to material scientists and chemists. [1][2][3] In particular, hierarchical and hollow structures have aroused signicant attention because of their distinctive functions, novel properties and extensive applications in drug delivery, 4 photonic crystals, 5 catalysis 6 and other areas. 7,8 In comparison with bulk and nanoparticles, the special hollow self-assemblies should be helpful for constructing functional nano-devices and to go deep into the formation of hollow assemblies.…”