Morphological evolution of Cu2O based on a solvent effect in a microwave-assisted system

• Evolution of Cu2O morphology with respect to solvent is presented.
• The competition between crystallization and etching was monitored.
• Cu2O crystals were applied to photolysis of methyl orange.

Evolution of Cu2O morphology, from a cubic aggregate to a mono-dispersed cube, then to a {100} planes etched cube, with respect to solvent composition is presented in the microwave-assisted system. The solvent composition has a great impact on crystallization kinetics and oxidation etching. A series of contrast experiments were designed to reveal the critical parameters in the etching process according to the oxidation reaction equation of Cu2O. {100} planes etched Cu2O cubes exhibit preferable absorbability on methyl orange in the dark, whereas Cu2O polycrystals show better photo-catalytic activity because of the highly active apexes and edges exposed on the surface.

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