Open AccessOne‐step in‐situ fabrication of silver‐modified Cu 2 O crystals with enhanced visible photocatalytic activity
Author(s) -
Li Junqi,
Sun Long,
Yan Ying,
Zhu Zhenfeng
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
micro and nano letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.25
H-Index - 31
ISSN - 1750-0443
DOI - 10.1049/mnl.2015.0530
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , methyl orange , materials science , scanning electron microscope , transmission electron microscopy , visible spectrum , aqueous solution , photochemistry , oxide , silver oxide , silver nanoparticle , irradiation , nanoparticle , chemical engineering , analytical chemistry (journal) , nanotechnology , optoelectronics , catalysis , chemistry , composite material , metallurgy , organic chemistry , physics , nuclear physics , engineering
Silver‐modified cuprous oxide (Cu 2 O) crystals (SMCCs) were successfully created by a facile one‐step in‐situ Ag‐loading reaction under room temperature. The samples were studied by X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, UV‐vis diffuse reflectance spectra and transmission electron microscopy. The photocatalytic performance of the SMCCs were estimated by using methyl orange aqueous solution as a standard pollutant under visible light irradiation. As a result, the SMCCs show a higher photocatalytic activity than the pure phase Cu 2 O. The silver nanoparticles which adhered on the surface of Cu 2 O of different size and content can greatly effects the photocatalytic efficiency. The enhanced photocatalytic activity owed to the effective charge transfer of excited electron‐hole pairs by loading Ag.