Vertically aligned Fe₂O₃ nanotubes (Fe₂O₃ NTs) arrays were prepared on the iron foil by potentiostatic anodization method. The anodization experiments were performed under 30 V for 2 h (20 ℃). The ferrous foil was working electrode and titanium foil was counter electrode. The electrolytes were consisted of 0.25 wt% NH₄F in an aqueous solution (Volume of water:glycol=3:97). After sonicating for 5 min, the samples were put under oxygen atmosphere with the flow rate of 60 sccm (standard cubic centimeters/min) and heated to 500 ℃ with the rate of 3 ℃•min^-1 and maintained at 500 ℃ for 2 h. Then cooled to room temperature with the rate of 3 ℃•min^-1. Honeycomb structure cupric oxide (CuO HCs) were decorated on the surface of Fe₂O₃ NTs by the pulse electrochemical deposition method. This was done by CHI660D potentiostat in 1 mol•L^-1 CuSO₄ solution (40 ℃) in a three-electrode configuration. The Fe₂O₃ NTs electrode worked as counter electrode, Hg/Hg₂Cl₂ in saturated KCl solution as reference electrode, and platinum wire as working electrode, respectively. A 10 ms cathodic pulse with a current density of -70 mA•cm^-2 was employed. After that followed by a 1 ms anodic pulse and its density was +70 mA•cm^-2 to prevent damage of the Fe₂O₃ NTs structure. Finally was a 1000 ms rest time. The electrodeposition time was 36 s, with a forward duty cycle of 0.99% (considering cathodic, anodic and rest components). Then the samples were annealed under oxygen atmosphere with the flow rate of 60 sccm then heated to 300 ℃ with the rate of 3 ℃•min^-1 and maintained at 300 ℃ for 2 h. Then cooled to room temperature with the rate of 3 ℃•min^-1. Then the CuO HCs/Fe₂O₃ NTs catalysis was obtained. The SEM images showed that CuO HCs distributed uniformly on the surface of Fe₂O₃ NTs that arranged in order were volcano-like. Measured by UV-vis DRS (ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflection spectrum) and valence band photoemission spectrum, its band energy has been narrowed from 2.03 eV to 1.84 eV after CuO decorating. It also has admirable photocatalytic and electrocatalytic reduction performance. The main product of photoelectrocatalytic CO₂ reduction identified by chromatography was methanol and its concentration reached 3.77 mmol/L after 6 h. The study has some guidance and reference significance for photoelectrocatalytic CO₂ reduction.

Key words: honeycomb CuO, Fe₂O₃ NTs, photoelectrocatalytic, CO₂ reduction, methanol