Synthesis and optical properties of CuO nanostructures obtained via a novel thermal decomposition method

• CuO nanostructures as a powder were produced by one-step thermal decomposition. • A new method to synthesize and control nanostructured CuO is reported. • One raw material (copper nitrate) was used. • The morphology of the CuO nanostructures changed as the temperature was varied. • The size of the CuO nanostructures increased with increasing the treatment time. We report a novel method that allows the synthesis of copper oxide (CuO) nanostructures and control their morphology and size by rapid thermal decomposition of copper nitrate (CuN 2O 6) under ambient conditions. The size and morphology of the nanostructures can be controlled by changing the temperature and the duration of the decomposition process. The structure of the products was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The results showed that the morphology of the nanostructures changed as the temperature was varied and their size increased with increasing the treatment time. The optical properties of the samples were investigated by UV–vis spectroscopy and a photoluminescence (PL) spectrometer. Rice-like nanostructures were observed and analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)/EDS and XRD which confirmed that the as-synthesized powders correspond to pure CuO.