Hybrid CuxO–TiO2 porous hollow nanospheres: preparation, characterization and photocatalytic properties

A series of CuxO–TiO2 hollow nanospherical composites with different mass percents of copper were prepared by an impregnation method, and the TiO2 hollow nanospheres were prepared by hydrolysis of tetraethoxy titanium on the surface of spherical SiO2 nanoparticles and corrosion of SiO2 in NaOH solution. CuxO–TiO2 hollow nanospheres displayed higher photocatalytic activities towards acetaldehyde degradation to CO2 than TiO2@SiO2 nanospheres and TiO2 hollow nanospheres under UV and visible-light irradiation due to the narrowed band gap of TiO2 and enhanced charge separation after copper was introduced. In particular, the CuxO–TiO2 hollow nanospheres show high catalytic activities in degradation under visible-light irradiation.