Facile synthesis of Cu3Se2/Cu2Se/Cu2O hollow microspheres by sacrificial template method at room temperature and excellent photodegradation activity

Cu3Se2/Cu2Se/Cu2O hollow microspheres with Cu3Se2 as the main component have been synthesized successfully for the first time by a facile sacrificial template method at room temperature, using Cu2O microspheres as the template. The Cu3Se2/Cu2Se/Cu2O product was characterized and its formation mechanism was explored based on series of control experiments. UV–vis diffuse reflectance absorption spectrum and photoluminescence (PL) spectrum were measured to study optical properties of the Cu3Se2/Cu2Se/Cu2O hollow microspheres. The photocatalytic activities were assessed by photodegradations of three organic dye solutions in the presence of a drop of H2O2. The results show that the Cu3Se2/Cu2Se/Cu2O hollow microspheres possess high crystallinity and large ratio of hollow-sphere-diameter: wall-thickness, which can be formed at an optimal reaction condition via a dissolution-recrystallization regime. The Cu3Se2/Cu2Se/Cu2O catalyst exhibits excellent photodegradation activity to a high concentration of methyl blue solution.