In situ photochemical synthesis of Zn-Doped Cu₂O hollow microcubes for high efficient photocatalytic H₂ Production

Traditionally, Cu ion-based oxide materials are considered not functional as photocatalysts owing to their instability in the photoelectrochemical processes. Here, we report on the light-induced photochemical synthesis of Cu₂O microcubes utilizing CuWO₄ as the precursor. It was found that under light irradiation and in the presence of glucose CuWO₄ could be reduced in situ into Cu₂O with its morphology reassembled from irregular bulk particles to hollow microcubes. Similar morphology transformation could not be observed when CuO or Cu(NO₃)₂ were used as precursors. More importantly, the in situ photochemical-synthesized Cu₂O naoncubes showed both high activity and excellent stability for glucose reforming under visible light, which overcame the general barrier of Cu₂O instability in photochemical processes. The activity could be remarkably enhanced when 0.1 wt % Zn was doped into the Cu₂O. The excellent performances of the material were related to the existence of hollow microcubes and the modified band structure due to Zn doping.