Open AccessSynthesis of three‐dimensional porous Cu 2 O microspheres by template‐free solvothermal method
Author(s) -
Zou Jing,
Ma Jinai,
Jiang Jizhou,
Zhang Yuanxiao,
Li Lu,
Wan Qijin
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
micro and nano letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.25
H-Index - 31
ISSN - 1750-0443
DOI - 10.1049/mnl.2012.0899
Subject(s) - porosity , materials science , scanning electron microscope , chemical engineering , cyclic voltammetry , microsphere , crystallization , morphology (biology) , electrochemistry , solvothermal synthesis , solvent , energy dispersive x ray spectroscopy , spectroscopy , nanotechnology , electrode , chemistry , organic chemistry , composite material , biology , engineering , genetics , physics , quantum mechanics
Three‐dimensional (3D) porous Cu 2 O microspheres were successfully synthesised by a simple template‐free solvothermal method. Systematic studies showed that solvent, precipitator and temperature reaction parameters played a key role in controlling the morphology and structure of Cu 2 O. The crystallisation, morphology and composition of the as‐prepared Cu 2 O was characterised by X‐ray diffraction, a scanning electron microscope and energy‐dispersive spectroscopy, respectively. It revealed that the 3D porous Cu 2 O microspheres were built from small 2D nanosheets with a thickness of 50–80 nm. Cyclic voltammetry was applied to investigate the electrochemical performance of the products. It was found that the 3D porous Cu 2 O microspheres possessed high electrocatalytic activity. The growth mechanism of the 3D porous Cu 2 O microspheres was proposed with a 3D molecule model.