Cu2O Core Research Articles

Real-Time Imaging of Interfacial Copper(II) Ion-Initiated Selective Etching in the Core Region of Single Cuprous Oxide-Bismoclite Core-Shell Microcrystals.

The core-shell microstructures are attracting much interest, most notably for their superior performance compared with their pure counterparts because of the interfacial effect. Comprehensively understanding the mechanism of the interfacial effect is critical but still elusive. Here, we report real-time dark-field optical microscopy (DFM) imaging of the selective etching in the core region of single cuprous oxide-bismoclite (Cu2O@BiOCl) core-shell microcrystals by I-. In situ DFM observations reveal that the reaction activity of Cu2O is significantly improved after coating the BiOCl shell layer, and the I- diffuses through the BiOCl shell and approaches the interface region, followed by etching the Cu2O core. During the etching process, two distinct reaction pathways, such as interfacial Cu2+-driven redox etching and confinement-governed dissolution, are identified. The interfacial Cu2+ is generated due to the coordination number difference at the core-shell interface. Moreover, according to the in situ DFM single-crystal imaging results, the ensemble adsorption capacity improvement for I- is also demonstrated in Cu2O@BiOCl core-shell microcrystals. These findings provide deep insights into the interfacial effect of core-shell microcrystals and establish a bridge between microscopic imaging and macroscopic practical application.

A sensitive electrochemical immunosensor based on high-efficiency catalytic cycle amplification strategy for detection of cardiac troponin I

An electrochemical immunosensor based on the novel high efficiency catalytic cycle amplification strategy for the sensitive detection of cardiac troponin I (cTnI). With its variable valence metal elements and spiny yolk structure, the Cu2O/CuO@CeO2 nanohybrid exhibits high speed charge mobility and exceptional electrochemical performance. Notably, fluorite-like cubic crystal CeO2 shell would undergo redox reaction with Cu2O core, which successfully ensures the continuous recycling occurrence of “fresh” Cu (II)/Cu (I) and Ce (Ⅳ)/Ce (Ⅲ) pairs at the electrode interface. The “fresh” active sites continue to emerge constantly, resulting in a significant increase in the current signal. In light of the electrochemical characterization, the electron transfer pathway and catalytic cycle mechanism among CeO2, Cu2O and CuO were further discussed. The developed electrochemical immunosensor detected cTnI from 100 fg/mL to 100 ng/mL with a LOD of 15.85 fg/mL under optimal conditions. The analysis results indicate that the immunosensor would hold promise for broad application prospects in the biological detection for other biomarkers.

MOF-on-MOF-derived CuO@In2O3 s-scheme heterojunction with core–shell structure for efficient photocatalytic CO2 reduction

Herein, a MOF-on-MOF-derived In2O3 nanosheets encapsulating CuO ortho-octahedral core–shell structure CuO@In2O3 S-Scheme heterojunction composite was designed and prepared by a new strategy of interfacial engineering integrating optical and catalytic activity centers, which endowed with the catalyst's dual properties of both highly efficient light absorption and charge separation. The In2O3 shell wraps around the CuO core in a tight coaxial contact, allowing them have the largest contact surface thus effectively promoting the transport of electrons and holes separated at the interface. More importantly, CuO@In2O3 formed a binuclear center could enhance the CO2 adsorption to facilitate the subsequent catalytic reaction and promote the charge transfer through Cu-O-In bonds. The successful construction of S-scheme heterojunction not only promotes the spatial separation of electron-hole pairs, but also maintains the strongest redox potentials of CuO and In2O3 at the conduction and valence band positions. Notably, the intermediates in the CO2 photoreduction process were probed by in situ infrared spectroscopy and a possible photocatalytic mechanism was hypothesized. Under visible light irradiation, the CuO@In2O3 rates of photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to produce CH4 and CO were 190.32 μmol g−1h−1 and 500.46 μmol g−1h−1, which are 2.1, 10.3 times and 2.4, 7.9 times higher than pristine CuO and In2O3, respectively. This work provides a feasible strategy for the design and synthesis of binuclear-centered photocatalysts with interfacial engineered modulation and application to the photocatalytic reduction of CO2.

Cu2O@PdCu synergistic catalysis for highly effective C-H arylation of azoles.

An efficient heterogeneous Pd/Cu synergistic catalysis system without a ligand was utilized for C-H arylation of azoles. The reaction exhibits excellent catalytic activity with high functional group tolerance. The synergistic effect between the Cu2O core and PdCu shell was confirmed, whereas pure PdCu nanocages and Cu2O exhibited negligible catalytic activity.

Rationally designed core-shell of 2D-g-C3N4/Cu2O nanowires heterojunction photocathode for efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting

Copper oxide (Cu2O) is a promising candidate as a high-performance photocathode due to its remarkable cost-to-efficiency ratio for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. However, fully exploiting the potential of planar Cu2O photocathodes for an efficient PEC performance remains a fundamental challenge owing to the poor light absorption and limited carrier diffusion length. To address these challenges, a graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4)/2D-Cu2O nanowires (NWs) with core-shell heterojunction photocathode has developed. The PEC water-splitting analysis reveals that the g-C3N4/Cu2O core-shell NWs photocathode boosted the photocurrent density from 0.83 mA/cm2 to 2.33 mA/cm2 at 0 VRHE (3-fold enhancement) compared with bare Cu2O. The formation of a g-C3N4 shell over the Cu2O core resulted in improved light harvesting as well as facile charge transport from the electrode to the electrolyte. Computational studies also revealed an impressive Gibbs free energy of 0.20 eV for the g-C3N4/Cu2O interface, highlighting its potential as an efficient PEC water-splitting device. These findings demonstrate that incorporating nanostructuring and overlayer strategies can remarkably enhance the PEC performance of Cu2O photocathodes, paving the way for more efficient and cost-effective water-splitting technologies.

UV filters and high refractive index materials based on carboxymethyl cellulose sodium and CuO@ZnO core/shell nanoparticles

Nanoparticles have substantially contributed to the field of skincare products with ultraviolet (UV) filters to preserve human skin from sun damage. Thus, the current study aims to develop new polymer nanocomposites for the efficient block of UV light that results from the stratospheric ozone layer loss. Co-precipitation method was used to successfully synthesis CuO@ZnO core/shell NPs with a well-crystalline monoclinic CuO core and wurzite ZnO shell. Using the casting method, core/shell NPs were successfully introduced to carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC). The CMC nanocomposites displayed considerably broader optical response extending from near-ultraviolet to visible light, which was likely due to heterojunction between the p-CuO core and n-ZnO shell and defects originating from the synthetic process. The transmittance of pure CMC in the UV, visible, and near IR regions is significantly reduced with the addition of 2 and 4 wt% of CuO@ZnO core/shell NPs to CMC. 99% of UV light is absorbed when 4 wt% of CuO@ZnO core/shell NPs are added. The addition of different concentrations of CMC nanocomposite to one of the sunblock in Egyptian market were studied and showing the highest Sun Protection Factor of 22. Moreover, optical dispersion parameters and refractive index were improved strongly with core/shell NPs addition.

Bifunctional CuO@CoV layered double hydroxide (LDH) core–shell heterostructure for electrochemical energy storage and electrocatalysis

The state-of-the-art designing and development of materials is an inevitable prior step for an effective solution regarding energy resources. In the context of supercapacitors (SCs) and electrocatalysis, it remains a challenge to fabricate electrode materials with high specific capacitance, high conductivity and lower overpotential. Here, a core–shell structure is prepared via a facile two-step electrodeposition method using CuO core and electrodeposited binary CoV LDH as the shell and used as a SC electrode and an electrocatalyst. For comparison, the CuO and Cu@CoV LDH electrodes are also prepared using a similar method. The CuO@CoV LDH core–shell electrode exhibits an areal capacitance of 206 mF cm−2 accompanied by an excellent stability of 88 % over 5000 cycles at a current density of 10 mA cm−2. This areal capacitance is far better than that obtained for CuO (49 mF cm−2) and Cu@CoV LDH (58 mF cm−2) electrodes. The symmetric device is fabricated using core–shell heterostructure demonstrating an energy density of 62.8 mWh cm−2 and power density of 985 mW cm−2. Moreover, the CuO@CoV LDH core–shell structure demonstrates an excellent oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalytic activity with an overpotential of 329 mV and a Tafel slope of 65 mV dec-1. This study opens a new route for the fabrication of CuO@CoV LDH core–shell structure via facile electrodeposition method for the electrochemical energy storage and catalytic activity.

Glutathione/pH-responsive copper-based nanoplatform for amplified chemodynamic therapy through synergistic cycling regeneration of reactive oxygen species and dual glutathione depletion

The rapid scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by glutathione (GSH) and insufficient endogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in tumor cells are the major factors greatly restricting the efficacy of chemodynamic therapy (CDT). Herein, we developed a tumor microenvironment (TME)-responsive Cu-based metal-mesoporous organosilica nanoplatform integrating vitamin k3 (VK3), which could deplete GSH and specifically regenerate H2O2 for amplified CDT of cancer. Once the CuO@MON-PEG/VK3 nanoparticles entered into the tumor cells through enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, the organosilicon shell and CuO core would be successively degraded upon the triggering of GSH and endo/lysosomal acidity. Subsequently, the enriched tetrasulfide bridges and released Cu2+ could consume GSH substantially, thus triggering Fenton-like reaction for CDT. Furthermore, the released VK3 could be catalyzed by the highly expressed quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1) inside tumor cells to generate sufficient H2O2 through a “reversible” redox cycle, which in turn promoted Cu+-mediated Fenton-like reaction. Both in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that this nanoplatform could achieve synergistic CDT against tumor through synergistic cycling regeneration of ROS and dual GSH exhaustion with excellent biosafety. Our finding highlight the promising potential of CuO@MON-PEG/VK3 nanoplatform with multiple oxidative stress amplification for highly efficient tumor therapy.

Fabrication of CuO (p)–ZnO (n) Core–Shell Nanowires and Their H2-Sensing Properties

Unlike the conventional one-dimensional (1D) core–shell nanowires (NWs) composed of p-type shells and n-type cores, in this work, an inverse design is proposed by depositing n-type ZnO (shell) layers on the surface of p-type CuO (core) NWs, to have a comprehensive understanding of their conductometric gas-sensing kinetics. The surface morphologies of bare and core–shell NWs were investigated by field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). The ZnO shell layer was presented by overlay images taken by electron dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The pronounced crystalline plane peaks of ZnO were recorded in the compared glancing incident X-ray diffraction (GI-XRD) spectra of CuO and CuO–ZnO core–shell NWs. The ZnO shell layers broaden the absorption curve of CuO NWs in the UV-vis absorption spectra. As a result of the heterostructure formation, the intrinsic p-type sensing behavior of CuO NWs towards 250 and 500 ppm of hydrogen (H2) switched to n-type due to the deposition of ZnO shell layers, at 400 °C in dry airflow.

Silver nanoparticles decorated ZnO–CuO core–shell nanowire arrays with low water adhesion and high antibacterial activity

Nanostructured surfaces based on silver nanoparticles decorated ZnO–CuO core–shell nanowire arrays, which can assure protection against various environmental factors such as water and bacteria were developed by combining dry preparation techniques namely thermal oxidation in air, radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering and thermal vacuum evaporation. Thus, high-aspect-ratio ZnO nanowire arrays were grown directly on zinc foils by thermal oxidation in air. Further ZnO nanowires were coated with a CuO layer by RF magnetron sputtering, the obtained ZnO–CuO core–shell nanowires being decorated with Ag nanoparticles by thermal vacuum evaporation. The prepared samples were comprehensively assessed from morphological, compositional, structural, optical, surface chemistry, wetting and antibacterial activity point of view. The wettability studies show that native Zn foil and ZnO nanowire arrays grown on it are featured by a high water droplet adhesion while ZnO–CuO core–shell nanowire arrays (before and after decoration with Ag nanoparticles) reveal a low water droplet adhesion. The antibacterial tests carried on Escherichia coli (a Gram-negative bacterium) and Staphylococcus aureus (a Gram-positive bacterium) emphasize that the nanostructured surfaces based on nanowire arrays present excellent antibacterial activity against both type of bacteria. This study proves that functional surfaces obtained by relatively simple and highly reproducible preparation techniques that can be easily scaled to large area are very attractive in the field of water repellent coatings with enhanced antibacterial function.

Catalytic oxidation mechanism of AsH3 over CuO@SiO2 core-shell catalysts via experimental and theoretical studies.

In this study, CuO@SiO2 core-shell catalysts were successfully synthesized and applied to efficiently remove hazardous gaseous pollutant arsine (AsH3) by catalytic oxidation under low-temperature and low-oxygen conditions for the first time. In typical experiments, the CuO@SiO2 catalysts showed excellent AsH3 removal activity and stability under low-temperature and low-oxygen conditions. The duration of the AsH3 conversion rate above 90 % for the CuO@SiO2 catalysts was 39h, which was markedly higher than that of other catalysts previously reported in the literature. The considerable catalytic activity and stability were attributed to the protection and confinement effects of the SiO2 shell, which resulted in highly dispersed CuO nanoparticles. Meanwhile, the strong interaction between the CuO core and SiO2 shell further facilitated the formation of active species such as coordinatively unsaturated Cu2+ and chemisorbed oxygen. The accumulation of oxidation products (As2O3 and As2O5) on the interface between the CuO core and SiO2 shell and the pore channels of the SiO2 shell is the main cause of catalysts deactivation. Furthermore, through combined density functional theory (DFT) calculations and characterization methods, a reaction pathway including gradual dehydrogenation (AsH3*→AsH2*→AsH*→As*) and gradual oxidation (2As*→As*+AsO*→2AsO*→As2O3) for the catalytic oxidation of AsH3 on CuO (111) surface was constructed to clarify the detailed reaction mechanism. The CuO@SiO2 core-shell catalysts applied in this study could provide a powerful method for developing AsH3 catalysts from multiple know AsH3 removal systems.

Metal-organic framework-assisted Co3O4/CuO@CoMnP with core-shell nanostructured architecture on Cu fibers for fabrication of flexible wire-typed enzyme-free micro-sensors

Flexible fiber-based sensors have recently received increasing interest for real-time monitoring personal health, owing to their small size, high flexibility, lightweight, and application potentials in next-generation wearable electronics. Herein, we report a flexible wire-typed micro-sensor based on CoMnP@Co3O4/CuO core–shell nanohybrid array on 1D Cu wire substrate for sensitive detection of glucose. The synthesis process involves in-situ growth of ZIF-67 rhombic dodecahedron on the surface of CuO nanotubes, followed by thermal annealing and electrodeposition of CoMnP nanoparticles to form core–shell nanostructured architectures. Benefiting from desirable hybrid nanostructures, the as-made binder-free fiber microelectrode exposes more electroactive sites for transport of ions and electrons during the catalytic process and provides strong adhesion between electroactive species and metal fiber substrate. As a glucose sensor, the CoMnP@Co3O4/CuO fiber microelectrode displays favorable analytical properties, including two linear dynamic ranges of 0.001 mM – 0.55 mM and 0.55 mM – 3.03 mM with the sensitivities of 2445 μA mM−1cm−2 and 1774 μA mM−1cm−2, respectively, fast response time (1.62 s), excellent selectivity toward glucose at the presence interfering substances, and a low detection limit of 11.42 μM (S/N = 3). Moreover, the proposed wire-typed micro-sensor was successfully applied for measurement of glucose in human blood serum and saliva samples. Taking advantage of the versatility of 1D metal fiber current collector, MOF-assisted strategy and transition metal phosphides, the presented protocol here can be extended to the construction of other wearable and implantable sensing micro-devices.

Surface etching and photodeposition nanostructures core-shell Cu2O@CuO-Ag with S-scheme heterojunction for high efficiency photocatalysis

Cu2O is one of ideal candidate photocatalyst, and it has attracted considerable attention owing to its low-cost and visible light responsive. Here, a core-shell structure of Cu2O@CuO-Ag with S-scheme heterojunction was delicately designed and synthesized for efficient photocatalytic degradation of the methyl orange (MO) and reduction of Cr(VI) under visible light. The shell of CuO and Ag nanoparticles were successfully close wrapped cube Cu2O core by the in situ topotactic oxidation of Cu+ in the surface of Cu2O and light deposition strategies, respectively. The Cu2O@CuO-Ag hybrid exhibits excellent photodegradation of MO activity and the reaction constant k is approximately 0.16 min−1, that is 8.20 times and 2.18 times higher than that for pure Cu2O and Cu2O@CuO, respectively. The Cu2O@CuO-Ag hybrid was also used to remove Cr(VI), and it exhibited not only strong adsorption ability, but also displayed remarkably promote photocatalytic performance in the absence of the sacrificial agents. The origin of the efficient activity of Cu2O@CuO-Ag hybrid photocatalyst was synergistic reaction to promote charge separation by S-scheme heterojunction designing and Ag acted as electron trap. This work provides a reference to design heterojunction photocatalysts based on Cu2O for photodegradation.

An Integrated Testing Strategy for Ecotoxicity (ITS-ECO) Assessment in the Marine Environmental Compartment using Mytilus spp.: A Case Study using Pristine and Coated CuO and TiO2 Nanomaterials.

An integrated testing strategy for ecotoxicity assessment (ITS‐ECO) was developed to aid in the hazard and fate assessment of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) deposited in marine environments using the bivalve Mytilus spp. as a test species. The ENMs copper(II) oxide (CuO) and titanium dioxide (TiO2), either in pristine form (core) or with functionalized coatings (polyethylene glycol [PEG], carboxyl [COOH], and ammonia [NH3]) were selected as case study materials based on their production levels and use. High‐throughput in vitro testing in Tier 1 of the ITS‐ECO revealed CuO ENMs to elicit cytotoxic effects on lysosomes of hemocytes of mussels, with the hazard potential CuO PEG > CuO COOH > CuO NH3 > CuO core, whereas TiO2 ENMs were not cytotoxic. Genotoxicity in hemocytes as well as gill cells of mussels following in vivo exposure (48 h) to CuO ENMs was also seen. Longer in vivo exposures in Tier 2 (48 h–21 days) revealed subacute and chronic oxidative effects for both CuO and TiO2 ENMs, in some cases leading to lipid peroxidation (core TiO2 ENMs). In Tier 3 bioaccumulation studies, distinct patterns of uptake for Cu (predominantly in gills) and Ti (predominantly in digestive glands) and between the different core and coated ENMs were found. Clear NM‐specific and coating‐dependent effects on hazard and fate were seen. Overall, using a tiered testing approach, the ITS‐ECO was able to differentiate the hazard (acute, subacute, and chronic effects) posed by ENMs of different compositions and coatings and to provide information on fate for environmental risk assessment of these ENMs. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:1390–1406. © 2022 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

Molecularly imprinted polymer capped Au@HKUST−1 nanocapsules-based electrochemical sensing platform for monitoring isoproturon herbicide in water at sub−nanomole level

In this context, an innovative design of a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) capped Au@HKUST− 1 nanocapsules−based electrode was described for highly sensitive and selective detection of isoproturon herbicide. The Au@HKUST− 1 nanocapsules were constructed by in−situ growth of nanoscaled HKUST− 1 crystals on Cu2O core materials and subsequent encapsulation of Au nanoparticles inside the hollow HKUST− 1 walls via galvanic replacement reaction between AuCl4− and Cu2O. After a further surface imprinting−directing polymerization process in the presence of hydrophobic Au@HKUST− 1, a high−performance electrochemical sensing platform was obtained and used for recognition and quantification of isoproturon. Under the optimal experimental conditions, a linear relationship was observed covering the linear range of 0.0010 − 45 μM with an ultra−low detection limit of 0.45 nM. In addition, the Au@HKUST− 1 @MIP modified electrode had higher sensing specificity for isoproturon in the application of water samples with recoveries in the range of 99.07 − 105.8% and a relative standard deviation of < 4%.

Shape-controlled hollow Cu2O@CuS nanocubes with enhanced photocatalytic activities towards degradation of tetracycline

ABSTRACT In view of recent advances in photodegradation of antibiotics, low cost and stable photocatalyst remain rare. In this article, shape-controlled Cu2O@CuS nanocubes with the larger specific surface area were successfully prepared via a simple template-engaged strategy. Cu2O nanocubes were synthesized through a reduction method as original templates, the core-shelled Cu2O@CuS nanocubes were formed by sulphuration with Na2S as sulphur source, and the Cu2O core can be incompletely removed by Na2S2O3 to generate the Cu2O@CuS nanoboxes. Herein, hierarchical nanoboxes with two-layered Cu2O@CuS were used as photocatalyst materials for photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline (TC). The obtained nanocubes manifested high specific surface area (39.65 m2 g−1) and large pore volume (12.3 cm3 g−1). The degradation performance for TC was investigated in detail, including the effect of parameters such as photocatalyst, pH and catalyst dosage. The results indicated that degradation efficiencies were higher than 90% under visible light. Moreover, the degradation efficiency was 71% after six times.

Highly sensitive characteristic of surface enhanced Raman scattering for CuO/Au core/shell nanowires substrate

In this paper, we report a facile process to fabricate CuO/Au core/shell nanowires, where CuO core and Au shell were prepared by thermal oxidation and sputtering, respectively. The as-prepared CuO/Au nanowires are highly sensitive surface-enhanced-Raman-scattering (SERS) substrates, which can detect methylene blue down to a very low concentration of 10 −13 M. The major advantages of SERS substrates based on CuO/Au core/shell nanowires compared with others SERS substrates are the high sensitivity, uniformity, and purity due to the absence of any organic surfactants in the synthesis process.

In-situ growth of hierarchical CuO@Cu3P heterostructures with transferable active centers on copper foam substrates as bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall water splitting in alkaline media

To fulfill the growing demand for green H 2 fuels, low-cost, efficient, and stable bifunctional electrocatalysts must be developed. Herein, a hierarchical CuO@Cu 3 P/CF nanowire core-shell heterostructure with transferable active centers was developed for a bifunctional electrocatalyst with high activity. In this system, the transfer of electrochemically active centers between Cu 3 P and CuO is used to facilitate the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), respectively. Particularly, Cu 3 P acts as the active center for HER, while the active center shifts to CuO for OER reaction, and Cu 3 P acts as a co-catalyst to improve the conductivity of the system. Benefit from superhydrophilicity's high electrochemical surface area and synergistic effect of CuO core and Cu 3 P shell, and CuO@Cu 3 P/CF shown significant catalytic activity for hydrogen or oxygen evolution, requiring low overpotentials of 144 and 267 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm −2 . In addition, the assembled CuO@Cu 3 P/CF-based electrolyzer exhibit excellent overall water splitting performance with a low operating voltage of 1.75 V at 10 mA cm −2 and a negligible decrease in catalytic activity. This gives encouraging evidence for the utility of our catalysts in application areas. • CuO@Cu 3 P/CF was successfully synthesized via growth-oxidation-phosphidation procedure. • Nanostructured substrate integrated growth ensured good mechanical bonding between CuO@Cu 3 P and CF. • The rough surface and stacked nanosheets make it easy for liquids to penetrate between the nanosheets. • The OER active site is derived from Cu III produced from Cu II after the cathodic oxidation reaction.

Water- and Acid-Sensitive Cu2O@Cu-MOF Nano Sustained-Release Capsules with Superior Antifouling Behaviors.

Marine biofouling is one of the technical bottlenecks restricting the development of the global marine economy. Among the commercial self-polishing antifouling coatings, cuprous oxide is an irreplaceable component because of its efficiency and broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. However, one of the biggest obstacles to achieving long-term antifouling is the "initial burst and final decay" of cuprous oxide in the coating. Here, we lock the copper ions by establishing an antifouling unit composed of Cu2O (core) and Cu-based metal-organic framework (Cu-MOF, shell). Cu-MOF is densely grown in situ on the periphery of Cu2O by acid proton etching. The shell structure of Cu-MOF can effectively improve the stability of the internal Cu2O and thus achieve the stable and slow release of copper ions. Furthermore, Cu2O@Cu-MOF nanocapsules can also achieve active defense by rapid and complete dissolution of Cu2O@Cu-MOF at local acidic microenvironment (pH ≤ 5) where the adhesion of fouling organisms occurs. Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy is used to explain the sterilization mechanism. Relying on the water- and acid-sensitive properties of Cu-MOF shell, the stable, controlled and efficient release of copper ions has been achieved for the Cu2O@Cu-MOF nanocapsules in the self-polishing antifouling coatings. Thus, these controlled-release nanocapsules make long-term antifouling promising.

Heterostructured Cu2O-Au nanowire as a dual-functional nanocomposite for environmental pollutant degradation and hydrogen peroxide sensing.

Materials engineering is generally regarded as one of the most effective methods in the construction of photocatalysts, but it still faces many challenges. In this context, we designed and prepared a three-dimensional (3D) heterostructure of nanowires (NWs) formed by Cu2O core and an Au shell. The Cu2O-Au NWs not only show fine photocatalytic ability but also proved to have Fenton-like chemical properties and can be used as a hydrogen peroxide sensor. Moreover, this heterostructure realizes an integration of catalytic efficiency, retrievability, and versatility. In further consideration of the facile preparation process and low-cost material source of the structure, the Cu2O-Au NWs show a promising application prospect in the field of multifunctional photocatalysts.