Redox reaction mediated direct synthesis of hierarchical flower-like CuO spheres anchored on electrospun poly(vinylidene difluoride) fiber surfaces at low temperatures

Hierarchical poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) electrospun fiber mats anchored with flower-like CuO spheres (F-CuO@PVDF) have been prepared in a one-step redox reaction mediated process using copper foil as the copper source at a low temperature of 80 °C. Structural and morphological studies have been carried out by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The optimized reaction conditions have been studied and discussed in detail. The amount of flower-like CuO on the F-CuO@PVDF has been gravimetrically determined to be 10.4 μg cm^-2. The obtained F-CuO@PVDF could be utilized as a catalytic separation membrane and has shown effective catalytic ability and photostability for the photodegradation of rhodamine B (10^-5 M in aqueous solution) in cycled tests. Catalyst separation, recovery, and regeneration are not necessary for F-CuO@PVDF in the cycled tests.