Spontaneous formation of Cu2O–g-C3N4 core–shell nanowires for photocurrent and humidity responses. Issue 21 (11th May 2015) - Wang, Lixia
Abstract : Rationally designed one-dimensional Cu2 O–g-C3 N4 core–shell nanowires have been prepared by a spontaneous reduction and assembly process, which possesses the moisture sensitivity and photocurrent response. Abstract : The assembly of low dimensional g-C3 N4 structures in a geometrically well-defined fashion and the complexation of g-C3 N4 with other materials are the main approaches to construct fancy structures for special functions. While high temperature was often indispensable for the preparation process, the realization of room temperature assembly of the low dimensional g-C3 N4 and the preparation of g-C3 N4 -based semiconductor composites will provide many additional advantages for new functional materials and applications. Herein, the unique cuprous oxide (Cu2 O)–graphitic carbon nitrides (g-C3 N4 ) core–shell nanowires with highly hierarchical sharp edges on the surface have been prepared by a spontaneous reduction and assembly approach based on oxygen-functional g-C3 N4 (O-functional g-C3 N4 ) at room temperature. Combined with the hybrid effect of Cu2 O with g-C3 N4, such hierarchical Cu2 O–g-C3 N4 core–shell nanowires possess sensitivity to humidity and photocurrent response.