Preparation and photocatalytic activity of cuprous oxide/carbon nanofibres composite films

Cuprous oxide (Cu2O) nanocrystals have been successfully synthesized using copper acetate as precursors via a polyol process. The as-synthesized products were easily deposited on the surface of carbon nanofibres (CNFs) and then were characterized through XRD, FESEM, TEM and FTIR, etc. The photocatalytic performance of these composite films was evaluated using methyl orange as a model organic compound under visible light irradiation. Results showed that the shape of Cu2O nanparticles could be changed from irregular nanoparticle to cubic, flower-like particle assembled by Cu2O nanocubes with the change of the reaction conditions. All of these Cu2O/CNFs composite films showed the satisfied photocatalytic activity to methyl orange even after 3 cycles of degradation experiment due to the protectable function of carbon fibre films to the Cu2O nanocrystals. The Cu2O/CNFs composite films may offer a feasible method for the potential application of Cu2O nanocrystals in the treatment of organic contamination.