Controllable Synthesis and Catalytic Property of Novel Copper Oxides (CuO and Cu<sub>2</sub>O) Nanostructures

Abstract

Copper oxides (CuO and Cu2O) semiconductor micro- and nanostructures have been selectively synthesized using cupric nitrate trihydrate (Cu(NO3)2•3H2O), potassium biphthalate (KHC8H4O4) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as starting materials in water solution by a simple hydrothermal method. The phase and morphology of the products could be controlled by changing the amount of sodium hydroxide and sodium potassium biphthalate. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectra (Raman) were used to characterize the products. It was found that oval-shaped CuO, CuO nanoplates and octahedral Cu2O were prepared by adjusting the molar of the NaOH and KH C8H4O4, meaning that NaOH and KH C8H4O4 played an important role in the morphology and phase of the samples. The catalytic application in accelerating catalytic decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) of the as-prepared samples was also investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Compared with CuO (oval-shaped or plates), octahedral Cu2O exhibited better catalysis on thermal decomposition of AP. The present work can afford some guidance for the rationally controllable synthesis of other catalytic materials.