Jana, Debrina and De, Goutam (2012) Controlled and stepwise generation of Cu2O, Cu2O@Cu and Cu nanoparticles inside the transparent alumina films and their catalytic activity. RSC Advances, 2 (25). pp. 9606-9613. ISSN 2046-2069

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Abstract

A stepwise generation of Cu2O, Cu2O@Cu core-shell and Cu nanoparticles (NPs) inside the alumina films has been accomplished. First, CuO-Al2O3 films were prepared on glass substrates by dip-coating method using alumina sol derived from partially acetylacetonate (acac) chelated aluminium-tri-sec-butoxide doped with copper(II) chloride, followed by heat-treatment at 450 degrees C in air. Heat-treatment of CuO-Al2O3 films at 450-500 degrees C in reducing atmosphere resulted in the formation of stable Cu2O NPs which can be subsequently converted to Cu2O@ Cu core-shell NPs with tunable Cu-shell thickness, and followed by pure Cu NPs by further heat-treatment at 550-700 degrees C. UV-visible, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD) studies of the films in different stages confirmed the generation of Cu2O, Cu2O@ Cu core-shell and Cu NPs. It has been understood that the chemical structure and property of matrix alumina facilitated the stabilization of Cu2O NPs inside the films. As a result, the formation of Cu2O@ Cu NPs can be achieved easily by controlled heat-treatment in reducing atmosphere. The catalytic properties of Cu2O, Cu2O@ Cu and Cu NPs incorporated alumina films were studied by monitoring the degradation of an azo dye congo-red. All films showed very good catalytic activities; among these Cu2O NPs doped films showed excellent stability, reusability and high rate constant values.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	Engineering Materials
Divisions:	Nano-Structured Materials
Depositing User:	Bidhan Chaudhuri
Date Deposited:	29 Jan 2013 12:53
Last Modified:	29 Jan 2013 12:53
URI:	http://cgcri.csircentral.net/id/eprint/1866

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