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Cuprous oxide microcrystals via hydrothermal approach: morphology evolution and photocatalytic properties
Author(s) -
Chai Chunxia,
Peng Peng,
Wang Xinjun,
Li Ke
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
crystal research and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.377
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1521-4079
pISSN - 0232-1300
DOI - 10.1002/crat.201400455
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , methyl orange , hydrothermal circulation , morphology (biology) , octahedron , materials science , aqueous solution , oxide , chemical engineering , crystallography , hydrothermal synthesis , mineralogy , crystal structure , chemistry , metallurgy , organic chemistry , catalysis , geology , paleontology , engineering
Cuprous oxide (Cu 2 O) microcrystals with various morphologies were prepared under mild hydrothermal condition. The samples were characterized by means of XRD, SEM, and UV/DRS. The morphology of the as‐prepared Cu 2 O microcrystals typically had cubic symmetry and the morphology evolution from radial, six hollow branches to truncated octahedra (again cubic) were realized by adding acetic acid. The peak relative intensity of XRD pattern shows that the exposed planes of samples is consistent with their morphology. A possible growth mechanism of Cu 2 O microcrystals is also proposed. The behavior of adsorption and photocatalysis of Cu 2 O microcrystals was investigated by degrading methyl orange (MO) in aqueous solution. The results show that the as‐prepared Cu 2 O radial six hollow branches microcrystals with exposed {110} planes have higher degradation efficiency to methyl orange (MO) than cubic ones with exposed {100} planes and truncated octahedral with exposed {111} planes microcrystals.