Graphene spheres loaded urchin-like CuxO (x=1 or 2) for use as a high performance photocatalyst

Graphene sphere decorated with urchin-like CuO and Cu2O (CuxO, x=1 or 2) was successfully synthesized by spray drying and post-calcinating method. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy observations confirmed that graphene formed a spherical micrometer structure and urchin,like CuxO were decorated on their surface. The experimental results indicated that these novel nanocomposites showed excellent photocatalytic performance in the presence of H2O2 under visible light. This could be attributed to a fast and long-distance electron transport in one-dimensional geometry and an effective separation of photogenerated electron hole pairs for an intimate interfacial contact between CuxO and graphene sphere. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.