Synthesis of sea urchin-like cuprous oxide with hollow glass microspheres as cores and its preliminary application as a photocatalyst

Cuprous oxide (Cu2O) microcrystals with sea urchin-like morphologies were successfully prepared on the surface of hollow glass microspheres (HGMs) using sodium sulfite (Na2SO3) as the reducing agent and sodium acetate–acetic acid (NaAc–HAc) as buffer solution in copper sulfate (CuSO4) solution. The products were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential thermal-thermogravimetry (DTA-TG), and visible spectrophotometer. Based on the SEM images of the as-obtained samples, it was found that the HGMs played a crucial role in the formation of sea urchin-like Cu2O. Meanwhile, the stirring time was also important for coating process. The as-prepared sea urchin-like microcrystals are cubic phase Cu2O. The as-prepared products can be oxidized at 240 °C. The preliminary study on the photocatalytic behavior of the sea urchin-like Cu2O showed that the photodegradation efficiency of 40 mg/L methyl orange (MO) reached 95.15% within 30 min.

► Hollow glass microspheres as cores.
► Sea urchin-like cuprous oxide was prepared under acid conditions.
► It has a 100–200 nm diameter.
► Such product has the properties of lightweight, good dispersibility, high specific surface and photo-degradation efficiency.