Interfacial Hydrothermal Synthesis of Cu@Cu2O Core−Shell Microspheres with Enhanced Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Activity

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In this study, core−shell Cu@Cu 2 O microspheres were synthesized with an interfacial hydrothermal method. The resulting products were systematically characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A core−shell Cu@Cu 2 O microsphere formation mechanism, which involved the in situ transformation of Cu to Cu 2 O, was proposed on the basis of the characterization results. That is, pure Cu microspheres were first formed through the reduction of copper(II) acetylacetonate. Then surface Cu was oxidatively transformed to a Cu 2 O shell, resulting in the Cu@Cu 2 O core−shell structure. The content of Cu 2 O shell in the composite microspheres increased with prolonged reaction time. The as-prepared Cu@Cu 2 O core−shell microspheres exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity as compared to Cu 2 O on the degradation of gaseous nitrogen monoxide under visible light irradiation. The reasons for visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity enhancement on Cu@Cu 2 O core−shell microspheres were discussed. These Cu@Cu 2 O microspheres are ideal candidates for fundamental studies as well as catalytic, electronic, and magnetic applications.