title: Cu-Cu2O-TiO2 nanojunction systems with an unusual electron-hole transportation pathway and enhanced photocatalytic properties.
abstract: Multicomponent Cu-Cu2O-TiO2 nanojunction systems were successfully synthesized by a mild chemical process, and their structure and composition were thoroughly analyzed by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The as-prepared Cu-Cu2O-TiO2 (3 and 9 h) nanojunctions demonstrated higher photocatalytic activities under UV/Vis light irradiation in the process of the degradation of organic compounds than those of the Cu-Cu2O, Cu-TiO2, and Cu2O-TiO2 starting materials. Moreover, time-resolved photoluminescence spectra demonstrated that the quenching times of electrons and holes in Cu-Cu2O-TiO2 (3 h) is higher than that of Cu-Cu2O-TiO2 (9 h); this leads to a better photocatalytic performance of Cu-Cu2O-TiO2 (3 h). The improvement in photodegradation activity and electron-hole separation of Cu-Cu2O-TiO2 (3 h) can be ascribed to the rational coupling of components and dimensional control. Meanwhile, an unusual electron-hole transmission pathway for photocatalytic reactions over Cu-Cu2O-TiO2 nanojunctions was also identified.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, PR China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Zu Peng
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Fang Yuan
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Xue Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Ci Zhang
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hua Gui
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Yang