Preparation of ultrafine Cu2O powders with different morphologies from Cu(OH)2 gel

Monodispersed Cu 2 O particles with different morphologies were successfully synthesized by using two different facile methods without any surfactants, and characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The two methods resulted in two different particle formation mechanisms. Spherical Cu 2 O particles were formed due to solely aggregation of subunits, in comparison with the formation of cubic, polyhedral, and octahedral particles resulting from aggregation followed by diffusion control. Aggregation accounted for the size of particles, while diffusion influenced their morphology. Further controlled experiments were performed to investigate the factors affecting the morphology of the particles, demonstrating that the precursor solid and NaOH concentration significantly influenced the morphology of the Cu 2 O particles. The preparation methods as well as the formation mechanisms presented in this study have broad prospects for industrial application.