Electrospun sulfur fibers as a template for micrometer-sized copper sulfide tubes

Micrometer-sized copper sulfide (CuS) tubes have been prepared by combining melt-electrospinning method using elemental sulfur and electroless copper plating technique. Melt-electrospinning of elemental sulfur provided a yellow non-woven sheet with micrometer-sized sulfur fibers. The color of the sheet changed to black by immersing the sheet into an electroless copper plating bath. SEM observation and XRD measurement of the blackened sheet indicated that the deposition layer on the sulfur fibers is CuS. Removing of the template fibers by dipping into a carbon disulfide bath provided the micrometer-sized CuS tubes. •Micrometer sized copper sulfide (CuS) tubes have been prepared using melt-electrospun sulfur fibers as a template.•CuS layer on the sulfur fibers has been deposited by dipping them into an electroless copper plating bath.•Inner size of CuS tubes is controllable by using the sulfur fibers with various sizes in diameter.