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Phase‐manipulable synthesis of Cu‐based nanomaterials using ionic liquid 1‐butyl‐3‐methyl‐imidazole tetrafluoroborate
Author(s) -
Zhu L.,
Chen Y.,
Sun Y.,
Cui Y.,
Liang M.,
Zhao J.,
Li N.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
crystal research and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.377
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1521-4079
pISSN - 0232-1300
DOI - 10.1002/crat.200900709
Subject(s) - tetrafluoroborate , ionic liquid , orthorhombic crystal system , nanomaterials , high resolution transmission electron microscopy , phase (matter) , materials science , hydrothermal circulation , monoclinic crystal system , nanosheet , nanoparticle , ionic bonding , hydrothermal synthesis , imidazole , chemical engineering , catalysis , inorganic chemistry , crystallography , crystal structure , chemistry , ion , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , transmission electron microscopy , engineering
Abstract Using the ionic liquid (IL), 1‐butyl‐3‐methyl‐imidazole tetrafluoroborate, and the precursor Cu 7 Cl 4 (OH) 10 ·H 2 O, series of phase‐manipulable Cu‐based nanomaterials were synthesized by hydrothermal and microwave assisted routes, respectively. The structural characters of the as‐prepared CuO, CuO/Cu 2 O composites and pure Cu nanoparticles were investigated by XRD, SEM, TEM and HRTEM, and their surface photovoltaic properties were studied by surface photovoltage spectra. Via hydrothermal route Cu 2+ ions were found to be reduced gradually into Cu + and subsequently Cu 0 with increasing the IL, and various phase ratio of CuO, Cu 2 O and Cu composite nanosheets and pure Cu nanoparticles were obtained. This implies that the IL could function as both a reductant in the oxygen‐starved condition and a template for the nanosheet products. The 1 H‐NMR result of the IL supports it being a reductant. In microwave assisted route, however, only monoclinic single crystalline CuO nanosheets were obtained, which indicates the IL being a template only in oxygen‐rich condition. Therefore, the crystal phase, composition and morphology of the Cu‐based products could be controlled by simply adjusting the quantity of the IL and oxygen in solution routes. The molecular structure of the IL after oxidation reactions was investigated by 1 H‐NMR and a possible reaction mechanism was proposed. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)