Enhanced Uptake of Iodide from Solutions by Hollow Cu-Based Adsorbents

Cu₂O exhibits excellent adsorption performance for the removal of I⁻ anions from solutions by doping of metallic Ag or Cu. However, the adsorption process only appears on the surface of adsorbents. To further improve the utilization efficiencies of Cu content of adsorbents in the uptake process of I⁻ anions, hollow spheres of metallic Cu, Cu/Cu₂O composite and pure Cu₂O were prepared by a facile solvothermal method. Samples were characterized and employed for the uptake of I⁻ anions under various experimental conditions. The results show that Cu content can be tuned by adjusting reaction time. After the core was hollowed out, the uptake capacity of the samples increased sharply, and was proportional to the Cu content. Moreover, the optimal uptake was reached within only few hours. Furthermore, the uptake mechanism is proposed by characterization and analysis of the composites after uptake. Cu-based adsorbents have higher uptake performance when solutions are exposed to air, which further verified the proposed uptake mechanism. Finally, hollow Cu-based adsorbents exhibit excellent selectivity for I⁻ anions in the presence of large concentrations of competitive anions, such as Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻ and NO₃⁻, and function well in an acidic or neutral environment. Therefore, this study is expected to promote the development of Cu-based adsorbents into a highly efficient adsorbent for the removal of iodide from solutions.

Hollow CuxO (x = 2, 1) micro/nanostructures: synthesis, fundamental properties and applications

In this review, we comprehensively summarize the important advances in hollow Cu_xO micro/nanostructures, including the universal synthesis strategies, the interfacial Cu–O atomic structures as well as the intrinsic properties, and potential applications. Remarks on emerging issues and promising research directions are also discussed.

Influence of CuO morphology on the enhanced catalytic degradation of methylene blue and methyl orange

The sheet-like CuO shows enhanced catalytic activity, compared to polycrystalline CuO for the catalytic degradation of methylene blue and methyl orange.

Synthesis and applications of porous non-silica metal oxide submicrospheres

A variety of metal oxide particles of spherical morphology from nano to micrometer size have been reviewed with a special emphasis on the appraisal of synthetic strategies and applications in biomedical, environmental and energy-related areas.

Direct Synthetic Control over the Size, Composition, and Photocatalytic Activity of Octahedral Copper Oxide Materials: Correlation Between Surface Structure and Catalytic Functionality

We report a synthetic approach to form octahedral Cu2O microcrystals with a tunable edge length and demonstrate their use as catalysts for the photodegradation of aromatic organic compounds. In this particular study, the effects of the Cu(2+) and reductant concentrations and stoichiometric ratios were carefully examined to identify their roles in controlling the final material composition and size under sustainable reaction conditions. Varying the ratio and concentrations of Cu(2+) and reductant added during the synthesis determined the final morphology and composition of the structures. Octahedral particles were prepared at selected Cu(2+):glucose ratios that demonstrated a range of photocatalytic reactivity. The results indicate that material composition, surface area, and substrate charge effects play important roles in controlling the overall reaction rate. In addition, analysis of the post-reacted materials revealed photocorrosion was inhibited and that surface etching had preferentially occurred at the particle edges during the reaction, suggesting that the reaction predominately occurred at these interfaces. Such results advance the understanding of how size and composition affect the surface interface and catalytic functionality of materials.