Synthesis and characterization of nano-CuO and CuO/TiO ₂ photocatalysts

Abstract

CuO nanocrystals were prepared by thermal decomposition of Cu-oxalate at 400 °C; then CuO/TiO2 core/shell nanocrystals were formed via the hydrolysis of titanium isopropoxide (TIP) on the surface of CuO nanocrystals. The characteristics of the synthesized nanocrystals were systematically studied using appropriate techniques, namely the morphology by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the crystalline structure by x-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. The structure, shape and size of the CuO and CuO/TiO2 nanocrystals could be tuned by changing various technological parameters: (i) the reaction/growth time (from several minutes to several hours), (ii) reaction temperature (from room temperature to 90 °C) and (iii) the molar ratios of the precursors. The results showed that the reaction temperature and the molar ratio of the precursors play important roles in controlling the morphology and size of both CuO and CuO/TiO2 nanocrystals. With increasing reaction temperature, nano-CuO evolved from spherical shaped nanoparticles to microspheres. By shelling the large-bandgap TiO2 layers on CuO nanocrystals, the core/shell structure is formed and the narrow-bandgap nano-CuO core is expected to be resistant to photocorrosion.

A Study of Low-Temperature CO Oxidation over Mesoporous CuO-TiO2 Nanotube Catalysts

“…The XRD patterns of the CuO-TiO 2 NT catalysts with a Cu content larger than 5 wt % (Figure 4a and Figure S1) exhibit diffraction peaks at 35.5 • (−111) and 38.6 • (111), characteristic of CuO phase in correlation with the reference pattern of tenorite CuO (Card JCPDS No. 00-001-1117) and that reported in the literature for monoclinic phase CuO [26][27][28]. The strong diffraction peaks of all samples indicate the purity and high crystalline nature of the TiO 2 and CuO phases in the different xCuO-TiO 2 NT catalysts.…”

“…The increased heating tolerance of the TiO 2 nanotubes modified with CuO nanoparticles can be attributed to the reduction of the total number of OH groups hydrated in the interlayers of the TiO 2 NTs, since Cu is hydrated with fewer OH groups relative to those hydrated at the Ti surface [31]. [26][27][28]. The strong diffraction peaks of all samples indicate the purity and high crystalline nature of the TiO2 and CuO phases in the different xCuO-TiO2 NT catalysts.…”

Facile Synthesis and Electrochemical Characterization of Polyaniline@TiO2-CuO Ternary Composite as Electrodes for Supercapacitor Applications

“…The TiO 2 -CuO composite was prepared as reported by Nguyen et al [ 26 ]. 1 mmol of TiO 2 was dispersed in 25 mL of absolute C 2 H 5 OH at 25 °C.…”

Synthesis, Characterization, and Antiproliferative Effect of CuO‐TiO2‐Chitosan‐Amygdalin Nanocomposites in Human Leukemic MOLT4 Cells

“…There are several key points mentioned in the earlier reports: highly stable, nontoxic, readily available, and possessing a narrow band gap, with special emphasis on the use of CuO and TiO 2 . Hence, CuO and TiO 2 bimetallic nanocomposites have gained wide interest for researchers in an array of fields, including drug development [ 5 – 7 ].…”