Plasma electrochemical synthesis of cuprous oxide nanoparticles and their visible-light photocatalytic effect

Abstract A plasma electrochemical method is used to synthesize cuprous oxide nanoparticles (Cu 2 O NPs). In this system, a gaseous discharge plasma is used to replace the usual solid electrode in a conventional electrodeposition, and Cu 2+ ions are released from anodic dissolution and take a form of Cu 2 (OH) 2+ in the solution. The Cu 2 (OH) 2+ moves to the cathode reaction zone and then is reduced to the Cu 2 O monomer by reductants generated from the plasma-liquid interactions. Consequently, Cu 2 O NPs are formed in the solution by the combination of Cu 2 O monomers. The results indicate that the morphology and Cu valence in the nanoparticles are tuned by the added surfactant of glucose or ascorbic acid. Moreover, the Cu 2 O NPs synthesized with a suitable concentration of ascorbic acid demonstrate strong visible light photocatalytic activity on the methyl orange degradation.