Spontaneous formation of Cu2O–g-C3N4 core–shell nanowires for photocurrent and humidity responses

Abstract

The assembly of low dimensional g-C₃N₄ structures in a geometrically well-defined fashion and the complexation of g-C₃N₄ with other materials are the main approaches to construct fancy structures for special functions. While high temperature was often indispensable for the preparation process, the realization of room temperature assembly of the low dimensional g-C₃N₄ and the preparation of g-C₃N₄-based semiconductor composites will provide many additional advantages for new functional materials and applications. Herein, the unique cuprous oxide (Cu₂O)–graphitic carbon nitrides (g-C₃N₄) core–shell nanowires with highly hierarchical sharp edges on the surface have been prepared by a spontaneous reduction and assembly approach based on oxygen-functional g-C₃N₄ (O-functional g-C₃N₄) at room temperature. Combined with the hybrid effect of Cu₂O with g-C₃N₄, such hierarchical Cu₂O–g-C₃N₄ core–shell nanowires possess sensitivity to humidity and photocurrent response.