The exploration of relationship between the evolution of Cu to Cu2O/CuO and photocatalytic efficiency toward water oxidation reaction.

This paper introduces a facile method to develop core-shell nanocomposite Cu/(Cu 2 O/CuO) through gradually oxidation on Cu nanocomposite precursors. As-prepared catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic activity in the reaction of water oxidation reaction (WOR). Comparing with the reported catalyst, Cu/(Cu 2 O/CuO) posed one of the highest O 2 evolution around 7700 μmol g-1·h-1. By analyzing the composition of catalysts in each reaction stages, the evolution pathway of Cu towards Cu 2 O/CuO and the different roles of each component in catalytic water oxidation reactions were deeply studied. In presence of high conductive Cu element and excellent light absorption Cu 2 O, the photo generated electron and holes can be effectively separated and greatly improve the efficiency of the catalyst. The evolution process and synergistic effects of the three components play a crucial role in improving photocatalytic efficiency, which promoting the nanocomposite to be a highly efficient core-shell catalyst for WOR. This paper presents the evolution of a highly active photocatalytic water oxidation catalyst with no photosensitizers. [Display omitted] • Cu/(Cu 2 O/CuO) core-shell nanocomposite exhibits a a high oxygen production rate of 7700 μmol·g-1·h-1. • The relationship between the evolution of Cu to Cu 2 O/CuO and the photocatalytic efficiency was explored. • Cu/Cu 2 O core-shell plays a crucial role in charge separation and dramatically increasing the catalytic efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]