Efficient Photocatalysts Made by Uniform Decoration of Cu2O Nanoparticles on Si Nanowire Arrays with Low Visible Reflectivity

Abstract

Abstract Highly uniformed decorations of Cu2O nanoparticles on the sidewalls of silicon nanowires (SiNWs) with high aspect ratio were prepared through a two-step electroless deposition at room temperature. Morphology evolutions and photocatalytic performance of SiNWs decorated with aggregated and dispersed Cu2O nanoparticles were unveiled, and the correlated photodegradation kinetics was identified. In comparison with the conventional direct loadings where the aggregated Cu2O/SiNW structures were created, the uniform incorporation of Cu2O with SiNWs exhibited more than three and nine times of improved photodegradation efficiency than the aggregated-Cu2O/SiNWs and sole SiNWs, respectively.

Keywords

• Photocatalysts
• Silicon nanowires
• Electroless deposition
• Copper oxide