title: Direct Synthetic Control over the Size, Composition, and Photocatalytic Activity of Octahedral Copper Oxide Materials: Correlation Between Surface Structure and Catalytic Functionality.
abstract: We report a synthetic approach to form octahedral Cu2O microcrystals with a tunable edge length and demonstrate their use as catalysts for the photodegradation of aromatic organic compounds. In this particular study, the effects of the Cu(2+) and reductant concentrations and stoichiometric ratios were carefully examined to identify their roles in controlling the final material composition and size under sustainable reaction conditions. Varying the ratio and concentrations of Cu(2+) and reductant added during the synthesis determined the final morphology and composition of the structures. Octahedral particles were prepared at selected Cu(2+):glucose ratios that demonstrated a range of photocatalytic reactivity. The results indicate that material composition, surface area, and substrate charge effects play important roles in controlling the overall reaction rate. In addition, analysis of the post-reacted materials revealed photocorrosion was inhibited and that surface etching had preferentially occurred at the particle edges during the reaction, suggesting that the reaction predominately occurred at these interfaces. Such results advance the understanding of how size and composition affect the surface interface and catalytic functionality of materials.
authors.affiliation: †Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, United States.
authors.forename: Michelle A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: ‡Applied Chemicals and Materials Division, National Institute Standards and Technology, 325 Broadway, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States.
authors.forename: Nicholas M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Bedford
authors.affiliation: §X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 S. Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: †Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, United States.
authors.forename: Elsayed M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Zahran
authors.affiliation: ∥Westminster Christian School, 6855 SW 152nd Street, Palmetto Bay, Florida 33157, United States.
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Goodin
authors.affiliation: †Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, United States.
authors.forename: Fatima F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Chagani
authors.affiliation: †Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, United States.
authors.forename: Leonidas G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Bachas
authors.affiliation: †Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, United States.
authors.forename: Marc R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Knecht
mesh_terms: D000077286:Cetrimonium; D002593:Cetrimonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D005947:Glucose / Q000737:chemistry; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D010782:Photolysis; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D002593:Cetrimonium Compounds; D003300:Copper; D005947:Glucose; C000520:cuprous oxide; D000077286:Cetrimonium
keywords: Cu2O; compositional effects; octahedra; photodegradation; size control