Progress in the Preparation and Degradation Performance of Cuprous Oxide-based Photocatalysts

Cu2O is a kind of p-type semiconductor, which has a wide application prospect in the field of photocatalysis. By adjusting the morphology and size of Cu2O, constructing the heterojunction structure, designing the composite material to increase the specific surface area and electrical conductivity, the light utilization rate of Cu2O was improved and the photogenerated electron-hole pair recombination rate was reduced, thus improving the photocatalytic activity and photostability of Cu2O, and promoting its application in the field of photocatalytic degradation of pollutant. In this paper, the methods to enhance the photocatalytic performance of Cu2O, including metal doping, semiconductor heterostructure construction and composites synthesis, were reviewed. Its application in photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants and the enhancement mechanism of heterojunction were summarized. In addition, the shortcomings of current research were pointed out. The development and application prospect of cuprous oxide based photocatalysis were also prospected. © 2024 Cailiao Daobaoshe/ Materials Review. All rights reserved.