Recent advances in Cu2O-based composites for photocatalysis: a review

• Published in: Dalton transactions : an international journal of inorganic chemistry Vol. 50; no. 12; pp. 4091 - 4111
• Main Authors: Yong-Hui, Zhang, Liu, Ming-Ming, Jun-Li, Chen, Shao-Ming, Fang, Pan-Pan, Zhou
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Royal Society of Chemistry 28.03.2021
• Subjects: Catalytic activity; Charge transfer; Composite materials; Copper oxides; Electromagnetic absorption; Hydrogen production; Morphology; Organic matter; Photocatalysis; Sterilization
• ISSN: 1477-9226; 1477-9234; 1477-9234
• DOI: 10.1039/d0dt04434b

Cu2O-based composites for photocatalysis have been extensively explored owing to their promising application in solving environmental and energy problems. At present, the research on photocatalysis is focused on improving the photocatalytic performance of materials. It has been reported that adjusting the morphology and size of Cu2O can effectively improve its photocatalytic property. However, photocorrosion is still an inevitable problem, which hinders the application of Cu2O in photocatalysis. The strategies of constructing heterogeneous nanostructures and ion doping can significantly improve the light stability, light absorption capacity and separation efficiency of electron–hole pairs. Cu2O-based composites exhibit superior performances in degrading organic matter, producing hydrogen, reducing CO2 and sterilization. Therefore, the construction of multi-materials will be one of the future directions in their photocatalytic application. This review summarizes the recent strategies for enhancing the photocatalytic activity of Cu2O by analyzing different Cu2O-based photocatalysts, and the charge transfer pathway is further discussed in detail. Finally, several opportunities and challenges in the field of photocatalysis are illustrated.