Study on Structure and Photocatalytic Properties of Cu₂O Nanocrystal Synthesized by Low Temperature Liquid-Phase Method

Abstract

Spherical and octahedral Cu2O nanocrystals were prepared by reducing copper acetate monohydrate (Cu (CH3COO)2·H2O) with hydrazine hydrate (N2H4·H2O) at ambient temperature and pressure. The influence of solution composition on the morphology and microstructure of Cu2O nanocrystals were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Ultraviolet and visible light spectrometer (UVvis) was employed to investigate the photocatalysis behavior of the Cu2O samples. The results show that Cu (OH)2 was initially formed with the addition of NaOH and then reduced into Cu2O by N2H4·H2O. At the same time, a portion of Cu2O particles were further reduced to Cu, but the increasing of O2 contents in the solution under vigorous stirring reconvert Cu into Cu2O whichlead to the formation of pure Cu2O nanocrystals. The alkaline condition which provided by NaOH was the prerequisite for obtaining spherical and octahedral Cu2O crystals. The facile method was provided to fabricate Cu2O nanocrystals with outstanding photocatalysis performance at low temperature, which may play an important role in sewage treatment and organic pollutants decomposition.