One-pot shorter time synthesis of Cu2O particles and nanoframes with novel shapes

Abstract

Cuprous oxide (Cu2O), with various morphologies including nanosphere, quasi-cubic, type-I Cu2O, type-II Cu2O (as illustrated in the Experimental section), cube, and type-I nanoframe, has been synthesized selectively in high-yield by a simple solution-phase method. Among them type-I and type-II Cu2O with novel shapes are first reported. The synthesis procedure variables such as the amount of sodium mixture solution and reaction time are observed to influence the resultant shape of Cu2O nano/microstructures. The structures and morphologies of the obtained products are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) techniques. On the basis of the time-dependent experimental data, a possible formation mechanism is presented. Furthermore, compared to our previous work, type-I nanoframes are also obtained in a shorter time by stirring the resulting solution in air at room temperature, and the condition/theory for synthesis of Cu2O nanoframes and nanocages is supplemented too.