Synthesis and photocatalytic properties of CuO nanostructures

CuO nanostructures were grown by decomposition of a mixture of Cu(CH3COO)2 x H2O and NaCl at different temperatures. The nanostructure properties were studied by X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope and Raman spectroscope. Photodegradation activity of the nanostructures towards methyl orange was also examined. CuO spheres and hollow spheres composed of nanoparticles were obtained. CuO nanoparticle size increases with an increase in the growth temperature. More specifically, it increases slowly when the temperature was lower than 280 degrees C and increases dramatically in a higher temperature range. The degradation activity is sensitive to the nanostructure growth temperatures, but the degradation activity varies with the growth temperatures or the size of nanoparticles composing of nanospheres non-monotonously. The hollow spheres composed of nanoparticles grown at 280 degrees C show superior photocatalytic activity towards the degradation of methyl orange than that grown at lower and higher temperatures.