Hierarchical Co₃O₄ microstructures decorated with Ag and Cu oxides: Study of photocatalytic and electrochemical properties

Abstract

Three-dimensional hierarchical Co₃O₄ microstructures decorated with Ag and Cu oxides were prepared via displacement reaction and subsequent annealing treatment. Photocatalytic properties measurements revealed that the photocatalystic activities of CuO/Co₃O₄ composites (Co₃O₄ microstructures decorated with CuO) were enhanced while those of Ag₂O/Co₃O₄ composites (Co₃O₄ microstructures decorated with Ag₂O) were reduced, when compared with those of pure hierarchical Co₃O₄ microstructures toward the degradation of methyl orange. In addition, CuO/Co₃O₄ composites exhibited an excellent recyclability ability of photodegradation. The electrochemical properties test indicated that both of the composite oxide electrodes exhibited excellent pseudocapacitive performance with relatively high specific capacitance and good long-term cycling stability. With the increase of the loaded Ag₂O and CuO dosages deposited on the Co₃O₄ microstructures surface, the specific capacitance values of the composites were increased. Ag₂O/Co₃O₄ composite electrodes showed higher specific capacitance values and better cycling stability than CuO/Co₃O₄ composite ones.

Keywords

composites / chemical synthesis / electrochemical measurements / electrochemical properties

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