One-pot synthesis of hierarchical Cu2O/Cu hollow microspheres with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity

•The hierarchical Cu2O/Cu hollow microspheres are fabricated by one-step approach.•The content of Cu2O and Cu can be controlled by adjusting the reaction time.•The material exhibits a better visible-light photocatalytic activity and stability.•Degradation kinetics of MO by Cu2O/Cu fits the pseudo first-order model.

The hierarchical Cu2O/Cu hollow microspheres have been fabricated by the one-pot solvothermal redox method, which is one-step approach without any surfactant and template. By using the HRTEM, XRD, XPS and UV–vis spectroscopy, the as-prepared product is composed of Cu2O and Cu with energy band gap of 1.72 eV. Based on the time-dependent experiments, the content of Cu2O and Cu compositions can be effectively controlled by adjusting the reaction time and a possible mechanism is proposed. In addition, using various dye molecules to stimulate pollutants, the hierarchical Cu2O/Cu hollow microspheres reacted for 8 h exhibit excellent visible-light photocatalytic activities, which is much higher than those of the Cu2O/Cu catalysts formed at the shorter reaction time, commercial Cu2O powder and the mixture of alone Cu2O and Cu. This enhanced photocatalytic performance makes these hierarchical Cu2O/Cu hollow microspheres a kind of efficient visible-light photocatalyst in removing some organic compounds in wastewater.

Graphical abstractThe hierarchical Cu2O/Cu hollow microspheres with adjustable components have been synthesized by one-step solvothermal redox approach. The special structures and composition lead to the excellent visible-light photocatalytic activity.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide