Enhancement of both optical and catalytic activity of copper-decorated porous silicon micro-particles

To the best of our knowledge, this study is first to investigate effect chemical vapour etching (CVE) combined with copper decoration on both optical and catalytic activities silicon micro-particles (SiμPs). After exposure acid vapours emanating from a hot solution hydrogen fluoride/nitric (HF/HNO 3 ), scanning electron microscope images treated powder show formation porous, sponge-like structure sidewalls SiμPs. Fourier transmission infra-red analysis shows appearance hydride bonds related porous structure. X-ray diffraction measurements Raman spectroscopy good crystallinity samples. The strong photoluminescence properties obtained SiμPs (pSiμPs) reveal that process generated nanocrystals within these particles. In work, we have investigated activity nanoparticles (CuNPs) loaded surface pSiμPs, in order reduce toxic compound 4-nitrophenol 4-aminophenol. results excellent performance very short times (less than 1 min).