Size-Dependent Visible Light Photocatalytic Performance of Cu₂O Nanocubes

Well-defined Cu₂O nanocubes with tunable dimensions and physicochemical properties have been prepared using a simple one-pot reaction. Reduction of Cu(II) salts by ascorbic acid in the presence of PEG as a structure-directing agent affords crystalline Cu₂O nanocubes of between 50 to 500nm. Optical band gap, band energies, charge-carrier lifetimes and surface oxidation state systematically evolve with nanocube size, and correlate well with visible light photocatalytic activity for aqueous phase phenol degradation and H₂ production which are both directly proportional to size (doubling between 50 and 500nm). HPLC reveals fumaric acid as the primary organic product of phenol degradation, and selectivity increases with nanocube size at the expense of toxic catechol. Apparent quantum efficiencies reach 26% for phenol photodegradation and 1.2% for H₂ production using 500nm Cu₂O cubes.