N-type hedgehog-like CuBi2O4 hierarchical microspheres: room temperature synthesis and their photoelectrochemical properties

Abstract

N-type hedgehog-like CuBi₂O₄ hierarchical microspheres assembled by prismatic nanorods have been prepared by a simple co-precipitation process at room temperature. Controlled experiments indicate that the formation and morphological evolution of CuBi₂O₄ architectures can be tuned by the activity of cations via changing the concentration, surfactants and solvent. Furthermore, the obtained CuBi₂O₄ architectures show a good photoelectric response to visible light irradiation because of the enhanced light trapping properties derived from the omni-directionally grown nanorods in the hedgehog-like hierarchical microspheres.