Graphene spheres loaded urchin-like CuxO (x=1 or 2) for use as a high performance photocatalyst

Abstract Graphene sphere decorated with urchin-like CuO and Cu 2 O (Cu x O, x =1 or 2) was successfully synthesized by spray drying and post-calcinating method. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy observations confirmed that graphene formed a spherical micrometer structure and urchin-like Cu x O were decorated on their surface. The experimental results indicated that these novel nanocomposites showed excellent photocatalytic performance in the presence of H 2 O 2 under visible light. This could be attributed to a fast and long-distance electron transport in one-dimensional geometry and an effective separation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs for an intimate interfacial contact between Cu x O and graphene sphere.