Liu, Lingmei Yang, Weiyi Li, Qi Gao, Shian Shang, Jian Ku Synthesis of Cu<sub>2</sub>O Nanospheres Decorated with TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanoislands, Their Enhanced Photoactivity and Stability under Visible Light Illumination, and Their Post-illumination Catalytic Memory A novel Cu<sub>2</sub>O/TiO<sub>2</sub> composite photocatalyst structure of Cu<sub>2</sub>O nanospheres decorated with TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoislands were synthesized by a facile hydrolyzation reaction followed by a solvent-thermal process. In this Cu<sub>2</sub>O/TiO<sub>2</sub> composite photocatalyst, Cu<sub>2</sub>O served as the main visible light absorber, while TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoislands formed heterojunctions of good contact with Cu<sub>2</sub>O, beneficial to the photoexcited electron transfer between them. Their band structure match and inner electrostatic field from the <i>p</i>–<i>n</i> heterojunction both favored the transfer of photoexcited electrons from Cu<sub>2</sub>O to TiO<sub>2</sub>, which effectively separated the electron–hole pairs. Photogenerated holes on Cu<sub>2</sub>O could react with water or organic pollutants/microorganisms in water to avoid accumulation on Cu<sub>2</sub>O because of the partial TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoislands coverage, which enhanced their stability during the photocatalysis process. Their superior photocatalytic performance under visible light illumination was demonstrated in both the degradation of methyl orange and the disinfection of <i>Escherichia coli</i> bacteria. An interesting post-illumination catalytic memory was also observed for this composite photocatalyst as demonstrated in the disinfection of <i>Escherichia coli</i> bacteria in the dark after the visible light was shut off, which could be attributed to the transfer of photoexcited electrons from Cu<sub>2</sub>O to TiO<sub>2</sub> and their trapping on TiO<sub>2</sub> under visible light illumination, and their release in the dark after the visible light was shut off. TiO 2 Nanoislands;photoexcited electrons;light illumination;Visible Light Illumination;Cu 2O nanospheres;Escherichia coli bacteria;Cu 2O Nanospheres;TiO 2 nanoislands;TiO 2 nanoislands coverage;Cu 2O;TiO 2;photoexcited electron transfer 2014-04-23
    https://acs.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Synthesis_of_Cu_sub_2_sub_O_Nanospheres_Decorated_with_TiO_sub_2_sub_Nanoislands_Their_Enhanced_Photoactivity_and_Stability_under_Visible_Light_Illumination_and_Their_Post_illumination_Catalytic_Memory/2303308
10.1021/am500131b.s001