Hierarchical heterostructures based on prickly Ni nanowires/Cu2O nanoparticles with enhanced photocatalytic activity†
Abstract
Metal-semiconductor-based photocatalysts show high efficiencies and catalytic activities in the photocatalysis process. Herein, the magnetic and one-dimensional Ni–Cu2O heteronanowires have been fabricated via in situ reduction of pre-adsorbed Cu2+ on the surface of prickly Ni nanowires in an ethanol solution for photocatalysis application. The resultant Ni–Cu2O heteronanowires show higher photocatalytic ability than pure Cu2O nanoparticles in the degradation of methyl orange. The enhancement of photocatalytic efficiency can be ascribed to the unique one-dimensional nanostructure and the electron sink effect of Ni nanowires in the heterostructure. It is believed that the low-cost metal Ni is an alternative candidate for substituting the costly metals (Au, Ag and Pt) to improve the photocatalytic ability of semiconductor-based photocatalysts.
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