Fabrication and Applications of Nanostructured Cuprite (Cu2O) Using a Two-Step Hydrothermal Method

Abstract

In this study Cu2O nanorods were successfully fabricated using a two-step hydrothermal method In addition a N2 purging process was used to purify the content of Cu2O The XRD SEM TEM and UV-VIS characterization tools were applied to check the phases morphologies crystallinity and band gap of Cu2O nanorods respectively We found Cu2O nanorods can be applied to various promising applications including photocatalysis piezoresistive effects and photoelectrochemical (PEC) activities The sample after 30 mins N2 purging showed the best photodegradation efficiency because the highest purity of Cu2O was obtained which exhibited the property of a direct energy band gap The I-V characteristics showed the higher current density under higher pressures indicating the piezoresistive effect When a visible light was irradiated the photo-induced piezoresistive effect was observed which enhanced the photodegradation efficiency The photocurrent of Cu2O nanorods was measured using a three-electrode configuration of a photoelectrochemical cell Approximately 3μA/cm2 was observed and the signals were steady after the test of three runs and 8 cycles for each run

Date of Award	2014 Aug 6
Original language	English
Supervisor	Kao-Shuo Chang (Supervisor)