SYNTHESIS AND PHOTOCATALYSIS OF CUPROUS OXIDE NANO-SPHERES IN AQUEOUS

Qihui Shen, Hanliang Gao, Xinchen Xu and Yan Liu

ABSTRACT:Cuprous oxide (Cu2O) nanocrystallites were successfully prepared by using hydrazine hydrate as reducing agent and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as the capping agent in aqueous phase, which was proved to be a green and convenient method for the synthesis of Cu2O Nano-spheres. Photocatalytic decolorization of Methyl Orange in aqueous Cu2O suspensions was investigated. Using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy characterized the samples and UV–vis Spectroscopy was employed to investigate the photocatalysis behavior of the Cu2O samples.

Keywords:nanocrystallites, cuprous oxide, photocatalysis.