Study on Structure and Photocatalytic Properties of Cu_2O Nanocrystal Synthesized by Low temperature Liquid-Phase Method

摘要

Spherical and octahedral Cu_2O nanocrystals were prepared by reducing copper acetate monohydrate (Cu(CH_3COO)_2H_2O) with hydrazine hydrate(N_2H_4·H_2O) at ambient temperature and pressure. The influence of solution composition on the morphology and microstructure of Cu_2O nanocrystals were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Ultraviolet and visible light spectrometer(UV-vis) was employed to investigate the photocatalysis behavior of the Cu_2O samples. The results show that Cu(OH)_2 was initially formed with the addition of NaOH and then reduced into Cu_2O by N_2H_4·H_2O. At the same time, a portion of Cu_2O particles were further reduced to Cu, but the increasing of O_2 contents in the solution under vigorous stirring reconvert Cu into Cu_2O whichlead to the formation of pure Cu_2O nanocrystals. The alkaline condition which provided by NaOH was the prerequisite for obtaining spherical and octahedral Cu_2O crystals. The facile method was provided to fabricate Cu_2O nanocrystals with outstanding photocatalysis performance at low temperature, which may play an important role in sewage treatment and organic pollutants decomposition.