Photothermal synthesis of ultrafine Cu(x)O nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes for photosensitized degradation.

We exploit a facile strategy for photothermal synthesis (PTS) of CuxO nanoparticles (NPs) on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) suspended in solution, where the pulsed laser can penetrate through the liquid unimpeded and heat the CNTs selectively to a high temperature, thereafter, the hot CNTs trigger the chemical reactions to produce CuxO NPs directly on the CNT surface. PTS yields ultrafine NPs with sizes of 3-5 nm, which distribute evenly and connect tightly with CNTs. The CuxO-CNTs composite shows excellent photocatalytic properties due to its cascade energy structure, smooth electron transfer between NPs and CNTs, and elimination of structural defects in CNTs by laser heating.