Facile preparation of Chevreul's salt (Cu2SO3·CuSO3·2H2O) mesocrystalline microspheres and their high photocatalytic activity†
Abstract
Cu2SO3·CuSO3·2H2O mesocrystalline microspheres were successfully prepared by a facile method for the first time. A section image of the products displayed that the microspheres included a peanut-like core consisting of packed particles and a shell composed of particles in an oriented attachment fashion. Acetic acid played a key role in the formation of Cu2SO3·CuSO3·2H2O mesocrystalline microspheres. The possible formation mechanism was proposed. The mesocrystalline microspheres presented excellent photocatalytic performance for decomposition of organic compounds under UV light irradiation such as RhB, acid fuchsin, thymol blue, MB (being completely decomposed) and MO (94%). Moreover, high photocatalytic activity of the mesocrystalline microspheres was retained after cycling several times. They may have a promising application for the treatment of contaminated water.