Structural and catalytic properties of Cu 2S microrods grown on a three-dimensional substrate

Abstract

We present a facile solution-phase method for the synthesis of Cu 2S microcrystals with rod-like morphologies by the reaction of sulfur with three-dimensional substrate copper foam in a mixed solvent of ethylene glycol and deionized water. The lengths of Cu 2S microrods are between 80 and 150 μm and the diameter is among 3 to 8 μm. Monodisperse Cu 2S microrods self-assemble into echinus structure. The samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy was further used to testifiy the purity of Cu 2S. Catalysis performance proved that the obtained Cu 2S materials possess superior catalytic efficiency on methylene blue with the assistance of H 2O 2. © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.