Facile Synthesis and Photocatalytic Property of CuO Nanostructure Arrays

Two kinds of well-aligned CuO nanostructured arrays composed of bundles of one-dimensional (113) nanoribbons and densely packed two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets were selectively synthesized via a convenient one-step route by adjusting the reaction temperature. Detailed time-dependent evolutions of the morphology and phase were systematically studied and the formation of both CuO nanostructured arrays was shown to be due to oxidation-growth -> dehydration and oxidation -> dehydration -> growth processes, respectively. The kinetically controlled nucleation and growth determined the final morphology of the CuO nanostructures. The photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared CuO nanostructured arrays was evaluated by the photodegradation of Rhodamine B(RhB) dye under simulated sunlight. This work provides a simple and economical route for the preparation of novel hierarchical nanomaterials which are expected to present a number of promising applications in various fields.