Synthesis of Cu2O Nanocrystals from Cubic to Rhombic Dodecahedral Structures and Their Comparative Photocatalytic Activity

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• 作者：Wan-Chen Huang ; Lian-Ming Lyu ; Yu-Chen Yang ; Michael H. Huang
• 刊名：The Journal of the American Chemical Society
• 出版年：2012
• 出版时间：January 18, 2012
• 年：2012
• 卷：134
• 期：2
• 页码：1261-1267
• 全文大小：989K
• 年卷期：v.134,no.2(January 18, 2012)
• ISSN：1520-5126

文摘

In this study, a new series of Cu₂O nanocrystals with systematic shape evolution from cubic to face-raised cubic, edge- and corner-truncated octahedral, all-corner-truncated rhombic dodecahedral, {100}-truncated rhombic dodecahedral, and rhombic dodecahedral structures have been synthesized. The average sizes for the cubes, edge- and corner-truncated octahedra, {100}-truncated rhombic dodecahedra, and rhombic dodecahedra are approximately 200, 140, 270, and 290 nm, respectively. An aqueous mixture of CuCl₂, sodium dodecyl sulfate, NaOH, and NH₂OH路HCl was prepared to produce these nanocrystals at room temperature. Simple adjustment of the amounts of NH₂OH路HCl introduced enables this particle shape evolution. These novel particle morphologies have been carefully analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The solution color changes quickly from blue to green, yellow, and then orange within 1 min of reaction in the formation of nanocubes, while such color change takes 10鈥?0 min in the growth of rhombic dodecahedra. TEM examination confirmed the rapid production of nanocubes and a substantially slower growth rate for the rhombic dodecahedra. The rhombic dodecahedra exposing only the {110} facets exhibit an exceptionally good photocatalytic activity toward the fast and complete photodegradation of methyl orange due to a high number density of surface copper atoms, demonstrating the importance of their successful preparation. They may serve as effective and cheap catalysts for other photocatalytic reactions and organic coupling reactions.