Preparation and characterization of Cu2O/TiO2 nano-nano heterostructure photocatalysts

Cu2O/TiO2 nano-nano heterostructures with different concentrations of Cu2O were prepared by an alcohol-aqueous based chemical precipitation method, and were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and UV-vis diffuse reflection absorption spectra. The photocatalytic efficiency of the Cu2O/TiO2 heterostructures was evaluated by degradation of Acid Orange 11 in water under UV-vis light and visible light irradiation. The results show that the heterostructures have dramatically improved photocatalytic activity comparing with pure TiO2 (P25). The prepared Cu2O/TiO2 heterostructures with the Cu2O concentrations of 30% and 70% have the best photocatalytic efficiencies, which are 6 times and 27 times higher than that of pure TiO2 (P25) under UV-vis light and visible light irradiation, respectively. (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.