Synthesis and photocatalytic activity of carbon spheres loaded Cu2O/Cu composites

•Carbon spheres loaded Cu2O/Cu composites are obtained by hydrothermal process.•Cu2O/Cu nanocrystals grow on the surface of carbon spheres.•The composites with core–shell structure show highly photo-catalytic activity.•The composites can degrade methyl orange under simulated solar light irradiation.•The composites can be used to treat dye wastewater or organic pollutants.

In this work, using amylose as carbon source and cupric acetate as copper source, carbon spheres loaded Cu2O/Cu composites were obtained by hydrothermal synthesis. The effects of the molar ratios between glucose and Cu(II), and hydrothermal time on the morphology and sizes of the composites were investigated. The result of photocatalytic experiments demonstrated that the composites could degrade methyl orange in aqueous solution under simulated solar light irradiation. The highest degradation rate was achieved to 93.83% when the composites were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis at 180 °C for 16 h and the molar ratio between glucose and Cu(II) was 10/1. The composites, as new and promising materials, can be used to treat dye wastewater or other organic pollutants.