Fabrication of n-SrTiO3/p-Cu2O heterojunction composites with enhanced photocatalytic performance

In order to further improve the photocatalytic activity, Cu 2 O coupled with SrTiO 3 was for the first time constructed by introducing SrTiO 3 to Cu 2 O and synthesized via a two-step route. The obtained n-SrTiO 3 /p-Cu 2 O heterojunction photocatalysts were systematically characterized by XRD , XPS , SEM, UV–vis spectra, etc., showing that n-SrTiO 3 /p-Cu 2 O composites were formed by coupling SrTiO 3 submicroparticles with Cu 2 O cubic micrometer structure. Photocatalytic results demonstrated that the introduction of SrTiO 3 brought about significant enhancement of photocatalytic activity of Cu 2 O, which led to the fact that SrTiO 3 could serve as cocatalyst for the degradation of pollutant MB by forming p-n heterojunction to accelerate photo-generated charge carriers separation and migration and providing enriched active sites. The obtained n-SrTiO 3 /p-Cu 2 O heterojunction composites showed good stability and recyclability in the process of photo-degradation. Besides, the possible photocatalytic mechanism was proposed.