CuCl-intermediated construction of short-range-ordered Cu2O mesoporous spheres with excellent adsorption performance

Surfactant-directed self-assembly (SDSA) had become a promising approach towards the synthesis of ordered mesoporous oxide materials in recent years. A key step in this method is to control the hydrolysis-condensation rates of inorganic precursors for good co-assembly with a structure-directing agent (SDA). Based on the principle of solubility product, we propose a new strategy, namely using water-insoluble intermediates as a "buffer" to retard the hydrolysis rates of inorganic species and thus facilitate the cooperative organization process to construct ordered mesoporous materials. Cuprous oxide mesoporous spheres (Cu2O MPS) with short-range-ordered structure were obtained with the assistance of triblock copolymers Pluronic P123 (EO20PO70EO20) to demonstrate this concept. The as-prepared unique structures exhibit excellent adsorption ability, and the maximum adsorption capacities is 3.4 times that of commercial activated carbon, at room temperature with methyl orange as pollutant. With the advantage of simple, easy control and high yield, it may provide a good idea for the preparation of other mesoporous structured materials.