Cu3N Nanocrystals Decorated with Au Nanoparticles for Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Dyes

Copper-rich nitride (Cu3N) nanocrystals have been synthesized by thermal decomposition of copper nitrate (Cu(NO3)2, 3H2O) in the presence of oleylamine and 1-octadecene. Thermal- and light-induced thermal processes are used to grow Au nanoparticles with variable sizes to tune physiochemical properties of Au–Cu3N nanoheterostructures. Localized surface plasmon resonance (in the case of ∼10 nm sized Au nanoparticles) and efficient charge separation due to favorable band alignment are proved to be effective for better photocatalytic dye degradation in the presence of solar light as well as green light-emitting diodes.