An Energy-Efficient Electrochemical Method for CuO-TiO2 Nanotube Array Preparation with Visible-Light Responses

作者:Liu, Haijin*; Wang, Yingling; Liu, Guoguang; Ren, Yuan; Zhang, Nan; Wang, Gang; Li, Tong
来源:Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters), 2014, 27(1): 149-155.
DOI:10.1007/s40195-013-0013-3

摘要

A rapid and energy-efficient method was presented for preparing CuO-TiO2 nanotube arrays. TiO2 nanotube arrays were first prepared by anodic oxidation using titanium anode and platinum cathode. Then, the formed TiO(2)nanotube arrays and Pt were used as cathode and anode, respectively, for subsequent formation of CuO-TiO2 nanotube arrays, through an electro-chemical process in a solution of 0.1 mol/L CuSO4. The morphology and composition of the CuO-TiO2 nanotube arrays were characterized using field-emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and UV-Vis diffusion reflection spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS). XPS and XRD analyses suggested that the Cu element in the nanotubes existed in CuO form, and its content changed along with the voltage during the second electrochemical process. The photocatalytic activities of the CuO-TiO2 nanotube arrays were evaluated by the degradation of a model dye, rhodamine B. The results showed that Cu incorporation aroused wide visible-light adsorption and improved the photocatalytic efficiency of TiO2 nanotube arrays significantly under visible-light irradiation. The stability of the CuO-TiO2 nanotube arrays was also detected.