The Structure Feature of Novel Cu₂O/e-HTi₂NbO₇ Nanocomposite and Their Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity

The novel Cu2O/[Formula: see text]-HTi2NbO7 heterojunction nanocomposite was assembled through a facile exfoliation-restacking route. The as-prepared nanocomposite and its precursors, Cu2O and [Formula: see text]-HTi2NbO7, were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), N2 adsorption–desorption measurements, laser Raman spectroscopy (LRS) and UV–Vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy (UV–Vis DRS). The photocatalytic performance was evaluated by photocatalytic oxidation of ethyl mercaptan (EM) and photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) dyes under sunlight irradiation. The results showed that Cu2O nanoparticles were successfully distributed on the surface of [Formula: see text]-HTi2NbO7 nanosheets, and the intensity of spectral absorption of the as-prepared nanocomposite in the visible-light region was significantly enhanced. The as-prepared nanocomposite displayed the enhanced photocatalytic activity than the Cu2O nanoparticles and HTi2NbO7 nanosheets due to the formation of a heterojunction structure between Cu2O nanoparticles and HTi2NbO7 nanosheet and a possible photocatalytic mechanism was suggested.