Issue 25, 2012

Controlled and stepwise generation of Cu2O, Cu2O@Cu and Cu nanoparticles inside the transparent alumina films and their catalytic activity

Abstract

A stepwise generation of Cu2O, Cu2O@Cu core-shell and Cu nanoparticles (NPs) inside the alumina films has been accomplished. First, CuO–Al2O3 films were prepared on glass substrates by dip-coating method using alumina sol derived from partially acetylacetonate (acac) chelated aluminium-tri-sec-butoxide doped with copper(II) chloride, followed by heat-treatment at 450 °C in air. Heat-treatment of CuO–Al2O3 films at 450–500 °C in reducing atmosphere resulted in the formation of stable Cu2O NPs which can be subsequently converted to Cu2O@Cu core-shell NPs with tunable Cu-shell thickness, and followed by pure Cu NPs by further heat-treatment at 550–700 °C. UV–visible, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD) studies of the films in different stages confirmed the generation of Cu2O, Cu2O@Cu core-shell and Cu NPs. It has been understood that the chemical structure and property of matrix alumina facilitated the stabilization of Cu2O NPs inside the films. As a result, the formation of Cu2O@Cu NPs can be achieved easily by controlled heat-treatment in reducing atmosphere. The catalytic properties of Cu2O, Cu2O@Cu and Cu NPs incorporated alumina films were studied by monitoring the degradation of an azo dye congo-red. All films showed very good catalytic activities; among these Cu2O NPs doped films showed excellent stability, reusability and high rate constant values.

Graphical abstract: Controlled and stepwise generation of Cu2O, Cu2O@Cu and Cu nanoparticles inside the transparent alumina films and their catalytic activity

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
28 Feb 2012
Accepted
12 Aug 2012
First published
15 Aug 2012

RSC Adv., 2012,2, 9606-9613

Controlled and stepwise generation of Cu2O, Cu2O@Cu and Cu nanoparticles inside the transparent alumina films and their catalytic activity

D. Jana and G. De, RSC Adv., 2012, 2, 9606 DOI: 10.1039/C2RA21662K

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