Preparation of Nanocrystalline Cu2O and Its Catalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue

The nanocrystalline Cu₂O has been successfully prepared by the solvent-thermal method using CuSO₄·5H₂O and NaOH as the raw materials and glucose as the reducing agent. The Cu₂O prepared was characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD) and transmission electron microscopy(TEM). The degradation of methylene blue using Cu₂O as catalyst without lights and stirring was investigated, and the best catalytic condition was obtained: the amount of Cu₂O, 0.400 g/L, H₂O₂, 2.5 mL(concentration, 12.63%), the initial methylene blue concentration,10 mg/L. The rate of degradation was more than 95% after 50 min under the above condition.