One-pot synthesis of homogeneous core–shell Cu2O films with nanoparticle-composed multishells and their photocatalytic properties

Abstract

Cu₂O films composed of homogeneous core–shell microspheres with multilayered shells consisting of nanoparticles, have been obtained by a simple, rapid and one-step chemical bath deposition method via the corrosive action of self-produced gluconic acid instead of a template at low temperature (80 °C). FESEM, TEM, XRD and FTIR studies show that the formation of Cu₂O films composed of homogeneous core–shell microspheres with multilayered shells mainly relies on the corrosive action of gluconic acid on the Cu₂O solid spheres, which is produced from the oxidation of the reductant glucose. The self-produced gluconic acid and the formation of corrosion channels in the microspheres are the key to the formation of the core–shell microstructure in the range of pH from 12.5 to 13.2. The photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) in aqueous suspension has been employed to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of the core–shell microsphere Cu₂O films. With the assistance of H₂O₂, the photocatalytic properties of the core–shell microsphere Cu₂O films in the degradation of MO are excellent.