The synthesis of inorganic materials on the nano and microscale with controllable shapes and sizes has been of great interest due to their catalytic reactivity. This activity is specifically dependent upon the atomic display, both metallic facets and defect atoms, from which enhanced reactivity can be achieved. Due to the impending energy crisis, such enhanced activities are important, where photocatalytic applications could be particularly attractive. To this end, Cu2O is an interesting material for photocatalysis due to its ability to split water for H2 production under visible light, as well as its use in photocatalytic degradation of toxic molecules. To study this process, we have prepared a new synthetic method to achieve Cu2O octahedra microcrystals with a tunable edge length using an aqueous solution method containing a surfactant at low temperatures. The materials were fully characterized to confirm their composition. After which, the photocatalytic reactivity of the various sized Cu2O octahedra particles was investigated by monitoring the degradation of methyl orange via UV-vis spectroscopy. The results indicated that size dependent photocatalytic reactivity was evident, which was optimized for particles of 4.39 �m in edge length.

Size-controlled synthesis of Cu<sub>?2</sub>O octahedra and their size-dependent photocatalytic reactivities

247th National Meeting (2014)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.

Size-controlled synthesis of Cu?2O octahedra and their size-dependent photocatalytic reactivities

Size-controlled synthesis of Cu_?2O octahedra and their size-dependent photocatalytic reactivities