Construction of CuO/In2S3/ZnO heterostructure arrays for enhanced photocatalytic efficiency. Issue 35 (30th August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chang, Yu-Cheng; Guo, Jin-You; Chen, Chien-Ming; Di, Hsin-Wei; Hsu, Chao-Chun
• Is Part Of: Nanoscale. Volume 9:Issue 35(2017)
• Page Start: 13235
• Page End: 13244
• Publication Date: 2017-08-30
• Subjects: Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; 620.505
• DOI: 10.1039/c7nr03630b
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2040-3364

Abstract

Abstract : Novel CuO/In2 S3 /ZnO heterostructure arrays have been successfully synthesized by a multi-step process. Abstract : Novel one-dimensional (1D) heterostructure arrays composed of CuO nanowire cores, intermediate In2 S3 nanostructures, and ZnO nanorod sheaths ( i.e. CuO/In2 S3 /ZnO heterostructure arrays) have been successfully synthesized by a multi-step process. First, single-crystalline CuO nanowires were directly grown on flexible Cu mesh substrates using a one-step annealing process under ambient conditions. Second, In2 S3 nanostructures and ZnO nanorods were sequentially grown on the CuO nanowires by a two-step hydrothermal method at low reaction temperature. The morphology, crystal structures, and optical properties of the CuO/In2 S3 /ZnO heterostructure arrays were studied by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The resultant ternary CuO/In2 S3 /ZnO heterostructure arrays exhibit excellent photocatalytic activity in the photodegradation of rhodamine 6G (R6G) under 10 W UV light irradiation, which is much higher than that of single-component (CuO nanowire arrays) or two-component systems (CuO/In2 S3 heterostructure arrays). Furthermore, the reusability test demonstrates that the CuO/In2 S3 /ZnO heterostructure arrays on the Cu mesh still maintain high photocatalytic activity in the degradation of three kinds of organic pollutants even after five cycles, without any significant decline. These findings provide an insight into the design and synthesis of new CuO-based composites to effectively improve their photocatalytic performance.