Photocatalytic activity of CuO and Cu2O nanowires. (February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Scuderi, V.; Amiard, G.; Boninelli, S.; Scalese, S.; Miritello, M.; Sberna, P.M.; Impellizzeri, G.; Privitera, V.
• Is Part Of: Materials science in semiconductor processing. Volume 42:Part 1(2016:Feb.)
• Page Start: 89
• Page End: 93
• Publication Date: 2016-02
• Subjects: CuO -- Cu2O -- Nanowires -- Photocatalytic activity -- Methyl orange.; Semiconductors -- Periodicals; Integrated circuits -- Materials -- Periodicals; Semiconducteurs -- Périodiques; Circuits intégrés -- Matériaux -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 621.38152
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mssp.2015.08.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-8001

Abstract

Abstract: Here we report the photocatalytic efficiency of CuO and Cu2 O nanowires studied by dye degradation in water. The CuO nanowires were synthesized on Cu foils by thermal oxidation. A subsequent thermal annealing induced a controllable phase transformation of the nanowires and the underlying film from CuO to Cu2 O phase. A structural characterization was made by scanning and transmission electron microscopies, energy dispersive x-ray analysis and x-ray diffraction. The photocatalytic performances were evaluated by the degradation of two dyes in water: methylene blue and methyl orange. In particular, CuO nanowires showed a good photocatalytic activity in degrading methyl orange, compared with Cu2 O nanowires. The photocatalytic activity was correlated to the physical-chemical properties of the samples, revealing the detrimental effect of the polycrystalline structure for photocatalytic process.