Surveying the Synthesis, Optical Properties and Photocatalytic Activity of Cu<sub>3</sub>N Nanomaterials
This review addresses the most recent advances in the synthesis approaches, fundamental properties and photocatalytic activity of Cu<sub>3</sub>N nanostructures. Herein, the effect of synthesis conditions, such as solvent, temperature, time and precursor on the precipitation of Cu<sub...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-06-01
|
| Series: | Nanomaterials |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/12/13/2218 |
| _version_ | 1797442463852396544 |
|---|---|
| author | Patricio Paredes Erwan Rauwel Protima Rauwel |
| author_facet | Patricio Paredes Erwan Rauwel Protima Rauwel |
| author_sort | Patricio Paredes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This review addresses the most recent advances in the synthesis approaches, fundamental properties and photocatalytic activity of Cu<sub>3</sub>N nanostructures. Herein, the effect of synthesis conditions, such as solvent, temperature, time and precursor on the precipitation of Cu<sub>3</sub>N and the formation of secondary phases of Cu and Cu<sub>2</sub>O are surveyed, with emphasis on shape and size control. Furthermore, Cu<sub>3</sub>N nanostructures possess excellent optical properties, including a narrow bandgap in the range of 0.2 eV–2 eV for visible light absorption. In that regard, understanding the effect of the electronic structure on the bandgap and on the optical properties of Cu<sub>3</sub>N is therefore of interest. In fact, the density of states in the d-band of Cu has an influence on the band gap of Cu<sub>3</sub>N. Moreover, the potential of Cu<sub>3</sub>N nanomaterials for photocatalytic dye-degradation originates from the presence of active sites, i.e., Cu and N vacancies on the surface of the nanoparticles. Plasmonic nanoparticles tend to enhance the efficiency of photocatalytic dye degradation of Cu<sub>3</sub>N. Nevertheless, combining them with other potent photocatalysts, such as TiO<sub>2</sub> and MoS<sub>2,</sub> augments the efficiency to 99%. Finally, the review concludes with perspectives and future research opportunities for Cu<sub>3</sub>N-based nanostructures. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:42:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c358fb103ce24a9784114475e521bab6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:42:12Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-c358fb103ce24a9784114475e521bab62023-11-30T22:16:34ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912022-06-011213221810.3390/nano12132218Surveying the Synthesis, Optical Properties and Photocatalytic Activity of Cu<sub>3</sub>N NanomaterialsPatricio Paredes0Erwan Rauwel1Protima Rauwel2Institute of Forestry and Engineering Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 56/1, 51014 Tartu, EstoniaInstitute of Forestry and Engineering Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 56/1, 51014 Tartu, EstoniaInstitute of Forestry and Engineering Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 56/1, 51014 Tartu, EstoniaThis review addresses the most recent advances in the synthesis approaches, fundamental properties and photocatalytic activity of Cu<sub>3</sub>N nanostructures. Herein, the effect of synthesis conditions, such as solvent, temperature, time and precursor on the precipitation of Cu<sub>3</sub>N and the formation of secondary phases of Cu and Cu<sub>2</sub>O are surveyed, with emphasis on shape and size control. Furthermore, Cu<sub>3</sub>N nanostructures possess excellent optical properties, including a narrow bandgap in the range of 0.2 eV–2 eV for visible light absorption. In that regard, understanding the effect of the electronic structure on the bandgap and on the optical properties of Cu<sub>3</sub>N is therefore of interest. In fact, the density of states in the d-band of Cu has an influence on the band gap of Cu<sub>3</sub>N. Moreover, the potential of Cu<sub>3</sub>N nanomaterials for photocatalytic dye-degradation originates from the presence of active sites, i.e., Cu and N vacancies on the surface of the nanoparticles. Plasmonic nanoparticles tend to enhance the efficiency of photocatalytic dye degradation of Cu<sub>3</sub>N. Nevertheless, combining them with other potent photocatalysts, such as TiO<sub>2</sub> and MoS<sub>2,</sub> augments the efficiency to 99%. Finally, the review concludes with perspectives and future research opportunities for Cu<sub>3</sub>N-based nanostructures.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/12/13/2218Cu<sub>3</sub>Nnanostructuressynthesisoptical propertiesphotocatalysis |
| spellingShingle | Patricio Paredes Erwan Rauwel Protima Rauwel Surveying the Synthesis, Optical Properties and Photocatalytic Activity of Cu<sub>3</sub>N Nanomaterials Nanomaterials Cu<sub>3</sub>N nanostructures synthesis optical properties photocatalysis |
| title | Surveying the Synthesis, Optical Properties and Photocatalytic Activity of Cu<sub>3</sub>N Nanomaterials |
| title_full | Surveying the Synthesis, Optical Properties and Photocatalytic Activity of Cu<sub>3</sub>N Nanomaterials |
| title_fullStr | Surveying the Synthesis, Optical Properties and Photocatalytic Activity of Cu<sub>3</sub>N Nanomaterials |
| title_full_unstemmed | Surveying the Synthesis, Optical Properties and Photocatalytic Activity of Cu<sub>3</sub>N Nanomaterials |
| title_short | Surveying the Synthesis, Optical Properties and Photocatalytic Activity of Cu<sub>3</sub>N Nanomaterials |
| title_sort | surveying the synthesis optical properties and photocatalytic activity of cu sub 3 sub n nanomaterials |
| topic | Cu<sub>3</sub>N nanostructures synthesis optical properties photocatalysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/12/13/2218 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT patricioparedes surveyingthesynthesisopticalpropertiesandphotocatalyticactivityofcusub3subnnanomaterials AT erwanrauwel surveyingthesynthesisopticalpropertiesandphotocatalyticactivityofcusub3subnnanomaterials AT protimarauwel surveyingthesynthesisopticalpropertiesandphotocatalyticactivityofcusub3subnnanomaterials |