Photocatalytically Active YBa2Cu3O7-x Nanoparticles Synthesized via a Soft Chemical Route

Abstract

YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized via a soft chemical approach and they were found photocatalytically active at room temperature. Using metal acetate as precursors, a well-designed soft chemical procedure was carried out to produce YBCO NPs. The very small particle size and/or large number of defects might have led the NPs to semiconductors with vigorous photocatalytic activities. This work provides a direct and efficient route to obtain multifunction in YBCO based nanomaterials which are based on specific size and surface effects.