Cu-Cu2O-TiO2 nanojunction systems with an unusual electron-hole transportation pathway and enhanced photocatalytic properties

TLDR: The improvement in photodegradation activity and electron-hole separation of Cu-Cu2O-TiO2 (3 h) can be ascribed to the rational coupling of components and dimensional control.

Abstract: Multicomponent Cu-CuO-TiO nanojunction systems were successfully synthesized by a mild chemical process, and their structure and composition were thoroughly analyzed by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The as-prepared Cu-CuO-TiO (3 and 9 h) nanojunctions demonstrated higher photocatalytic activities under UV/Vis light irradiation in the process of the degradation of organic compounds than those of the Cu-CuO, Cu-TiO, and Cu O-TiO starting materials. Moreover, time-resolved photoluminescence spectra demonstrated that the quenching times of electrons and holes in Cu-CuO-TiO (3 h) is higher than that of Cu-CuO-TiO (9 h); this leads to a better photocatalytic performance of Cu-CuO-TiO (3 h). The improvement in photodegradation activity and electron-hole separation of Cu-Cu O-TiO (3 h) can be ascribed to the rational coupling of components and dimensional control. Meanwhile, an unusual electron-hole transmission pathway for photocatalytic reactions over Cu-CuO- TiO nanojunctions was also identified.