High‐performance Cu2O‐based photocatalysts enabled by self‐curling nanocelluloses via a freeze‐drying route

Abstract

AbstractEnhancing the photocatalytic stability of Cu2O in the degradation of tetracycline is a great challenge in combating environmental water pollution because it is prone to deactivation by photocorrosion in aqueous environment. In this study, Cu2O/cellulose microfiber aerogel is synthesized through freeze‐drying, utilizing the self‐curling effect of cellulose and then calcined to produce Cu2O/C composite aerogel. The derived Cu2O/C composite aerogel features hollow carbon microfibers anchored with Cu2O nanocubes. Due to the curling structure and conductivity of the carbon microfibers, the photodegradation efficiency of the obtained Cu2O/C composite aerogel for tetracycline is drastically improved to 97.3% under 120 min of visible‐light irradiation, and remains a cycling photodegradation rate of 84.3% after 10 cycles. The Cu2O/C composite aerogel shows remarkable strategies for designing and constructing Cu2O‐based photocatalyst in the practical photodegradation of tetracycline under visible‐light exposure.