From 2-D CuO nanosheets to 3-D hollow nanospheres: interface-assisted synthesis, surface photovoltage properties and photocatalytic activity

CuO hierarchical hollow nanostructures, assembled by nanosheets, were successfully prepared in n-octanol/aqueous liquid system through a microwave approach. Controlled experiments revealed that both bubble and interface play key roles in determining the self-assembly process of CuO hierarchical hollow nanostructures, and the morphology/size of building blocks and final products could be readily tuned by adjusting reaction parameters. Furthermore, a self-assembly mechanism of aggregation-then-growth process through bubble template was proposed for the formation of the hollow hierarchical architectures. Photocatalytic performance evidenced that the obtained CuO hierarchical hollow nanostructures possessed superior photocatalytic efficiency on RhB than that of non-hollow nanostructures, which could be easily demonstrated by SPS response about the separation and recombination situation of photogenerated charges.