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.