Controlled reduction of Cu 2+ to Cu + with an N,O-type chelate under hydrothermal conditions to produce Cu 2O nanoparticles

Abstract

N,O-type organic chelates reduced coordinated Cu 2+ ions under hydrothermal reaction conditions to produce Cu 2O/CuO nanoparticles. Chelates in which the N and O atoms are closely spaced produced smaller amounts of CuO nanoparticles, indicating their higher ability to reduce Cu 2+ ions to Cu + ions. [Cu(Gly) 2] 2 with the shortest ligand chain length produced only Cu 2O nanoparticles and, therefore, can be used as a single molecule precursor for the synthesis of Cu 2O nanoparticles.