A bioinspired Au-Cu1.97S/Cu2S film with efficient low-angle-dependent and thermal-assisted photodetection properties

Inspired by the geological processes, this study develops an innovative low-concentration-ratio H2 reduction method to reduce the stoichiometric Au-CuS nanoparticles to produce completely reduced stoichiometric Cu2S with "invisible" Au achieved for solid solution Au enhancement. A stable Au-Cu1.97S/Cu2S micro/nano-composite is then formed by spontaneous oxidation. From this composite, in combination with biomimetic technology, an omnidirectional photoabsorption and thermoregulated film (Au-Cu1.97S/Cu2S-C-T_FW) is designed and fabricated as a photothermal-assisted and temperature-autoregulated photodetector for broadband and low-angle-dependent photodetection that presents good performance with high responsivity (26.37 mA/W), detectivity (1.25×108 Jones), and good stability at low bias (0.5 V). Solid solution Au exhibits significantly enhanced photodetection (1,000 times). This study offers a new concept for improving the stability and photoelectric properties of copper chalcogenides. Moreover, it opens up a new avenue toward enhancing the performance of optoelectronic and photovoltaic devices using solid solution metal atoms and thermal-assisted, anti-overheating temperature autoregulation.

One-pot preparation of hierarchical Cu2O hollow spheres for improved visible-light photocatalytic properties

As visible light photocatalysts, narrow bandgap semiconductors can effectively convert solar energy to chemical energy, exhibiting potential applications in alleviating energy shortage and environmental pollution. Cu₂O hollow spheres with a narrow band gap and uniform hierarchical structures have been fabricated in a controlled way. The one-pot solvothermal method without any template is simple and facile. The morphologies, crystal structures, composition, specific surface areas, and optical and photoelectric properties of the products were analyzed by various techniques. The hollow and solid Cu₂O spheres could be fabricated by controlling the reaction time, and a possible growth process of the Cu₂O hollow spheres was revealed. The degradation of methyl orange (MO) was used to investigate the visible-light catalytic properties of the Cu₂O samples. More than 90% of MO is degraded under visible light illumination of 20 min, exhibiting a quick catalytic reaction. The rate constant of the Cu₂O hollow spheres was 2.54 times and 46.6 times larger than those of the Cu₂O solid spheres and commercial Cu₂O powder, respectively. The possible photocatalytic mechanism of MO was revealed over Cu₂O hollow spheres through the detection of active species. The as-prepared Cu₂O hollow spheres display improved visible-light catalytic activity and stability, indicating their potential application in wastewater treatment.

As visible light photocatalysts, narrow bandgap semiconductors can effectively convert solar energy to chemical energy, exhibiting potential applications in alleviating energy shortage and environmental pollution.

One-pot synthesis of 3D Cu2S–MoS2 nanocomposites by an ionic liquid-assisted strategy with high photocatalytic activity

Cu₂S–MoS₂ nanocomposites are synthesised by a one-step hydrothermal method and show better catalytic activity than Cu₂S and MoS₂ monomers.

A novel strategy to construct Janus metallamacrocycles with both a Ru–arene face and an imidazolium face

We report a novel strategy to synthesize Janus metallocyclic Ru–arene complexes with both a Ru–arene face and a didentate imidazolium face, which possess unusual structures and properties.

Freestanding CuS nanowalls: ionic liquid-assisted synthesis and prominent catalytic performance for the decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

Freestanding CuS nanowalls, with excellent catalytic activity for AP thermal decomposition, were grown and assembled at the [C₁₀mim]Br-modulated liquid–liquid interface.