3D Carambola-Like CuO/TiO2 Nanotube Heterostructures via Low-Temperature Solution Process for Photocatalytic Activity

CuO/TiO2 heterostructures have been synthesized via a facile low-temperature solution method. The resultant heterostructures present a three-dimensional hierarchical morphology of carambola-like CuO integrated with TiO2 nanotubes (NTs), confirmed by means of SEM, TEM, EDS, XRD and XPS. And time-dependent evolutions of morphology show that the CuO grow from the initial leaf-shaped nanosheets and eventually form carambola-like structures. The UV/Vis absorption spectrum indicates that the carambola-like CuO/TiO2 NTs have strong absorption in the UV light region as well as in the visible light region. The study on evaluating photocatalytic activity indicates that the carambola-like CuO/TiO2 NTs can degrade 40 % of Rhodamine B, exhibiting enhanced photocatalytic activity compared with TiO2 NTs. Moreover, the photocatalytic mechanism of the carambola-like CuO/TiO2 NT heterostructures is expounded.

Automated summary

CuO/TiO2 heterostructures with carambola-like CuO integrated with TiO2 nanotubes have been synthesized, showing strong UV light and visible light absorption. Studies indicate that these heterostructures exhibit enhanced photocatalytic activity compared to TiO2 nanotubes.