Thermosensitive Cu2O–PNIPAM core–shell nanoreactors with tunable photocatalytic activity

Abstract

We report a facile and novel method for the fabrication of Cu₂O@PNIPAM core–shell nanoreactors using Cu₂O nanocubes as the core. The PNIPAM shell not only effectively protects the Cu₂O nanocubes from oxidation, but also improves the colloidal stability of the system. The Cu₂O@PNIPAM core–shell microgels can work efficiently as a photocatalyst for the decomposition of methyl orange under visible light. A significant enhancement in the catalytic activity has been observed for the core–shell microgels compared with that of pure Cu₂O nanocubes. Most importantly, the photocatalytic activity of the Cu₂O nanocubes can be further tuned by the thermosensitive PNIPAM shell, as rationalized by our recent theory.