Microwave Synthesis of Cu/Cu2O/SnO2 Composite with Improved Photocatalytic Ability Using SnCl4 as a Protector.

Cu/Cu2O/SnO2 composites were successfully prepared with a facile microwave synthesis method. The structure of Cu/Cu2O/SnO2 composite was studied by morphology characterizations, such as X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, which showed that the size of the Cu/Cu2O/SnO2 particles is 20-50 nm. The synthesis mechanism revealed that SnCl4 obstructed between Cu(OH) and ethylene glycol, preventing Cu(OH) being reduced into Cu at high temperature. The photocatalytic property of Cu/Cu2O/SnO2 composite was investigated by degrading the mixed dyestuff under the irradiation of visible light at room temperature. Benefiting from the effect of electron transfer, the photocatalytic performance of the microwave-prepared Cu/Cu2O/SnO2 composite was much better than that of pure Cu2O. The possible photocatalytic mechanism of the Cu/Cu2O/SnO2 composite catalysts was proposed and elaborated in this study. This synthesis of Cu/Cu2O/SnO2 composite may provide a method for other Cu2O/semiconductor composites microwave preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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