Cu₂S Nanosheets for the Catalytic Decomposition of Ozone

In this work, a Cu2S monolithic catalyst with a nanosheet structure was prepared by treating copper foam with a liquid-phase vulcanization method. The surface of the catalyst was modified by a series of straightforward oxidation, reduction, and vulcanization processes, and in this way, the nanostructure was also changed from nanowires to granular and irregular nanosheets. This material can remove 100% of ozone at a concentration of 20 ppm and a gas hourly space velocity of 70,000 h–1, making it one of the best-reported performances among monolithic ozone decomposition catalysts. In situ diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy characterization was used to clarify the intermediate products in the ozone decomposition process, revealing the mechanism of sulfide semiconductor materials decomposing ozone. The liquid-phase vulcanization modification method reported in this work has universal applicability to other transition metal oxides and great potential for application in the field of the catalytic decomposition of harmful gas pollutants.