Cu₂O/g-C₃N₄nanocomposites: an insight into the band structure tuning and catalytic efficiencies

Abstract

We demonstrate an easy and scalable room-temperature synthesis of Cu2O nanoparticle incorporated graphitic carbon nitride composites without the aid of any inert atmosphere. First principles calculations based upon density functional theory, in addition to the experimental validations, have been employed to investigate the electronic and optical properties of the nanocomposites. An insight into the band structure tunability, phase stabilisation and the dependancy of the catalytic properties of the nanocomposites upon the amount of Cu loading, in the form of Cu oxides, have been provided in this work.