Flower−like 3D CuO microsphere acting as photocatalytic water oxidation catalyst

Abstract

Flower−like 3D CuO microspheres were synthesized and used to photo−catalyze water oxidation under visible light. The structure of the CuO microspheres was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, infrared, powder X−ray diffraction, electron dispersive spectroscopy, Raman and X−ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). This is the first time that a copper oxide was demonstrated as a photocatalytic water oxidation catalyst under near neutral conditions. The catalytic activity of CuO microspheres in borate buffer shows the best performance with O2 yield of 11.5%. No change in the surface properties of CuO before and after the photocatalytic reaction was seen by XPS, which showed good catalyst stability. A photocatalytic water oxidation reaction mechanism catalyzed by the CuO microspheres was proposed.