Formation of CuO and Cu2O Crystalline Phases in a Reactor for Low-Pressure Arc Discharge Synthesis

Abstract

A method for synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles in a reactor for low-pressure arc discharge synthesis is presented, and the effect that the oxygen content of the gas mixture fed into the reactor has on the ratio between CuO and Cu2O phases is studied. The crystalline structure of synthesized copper oxide nanoparticles is investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the particle morphology is characterized using transmission electron microscopy. The growth of nanoparticles during synthesis in arc discharge plasma is investigated using optical emission spectroscopy. XRD analysis shows that the proportion of the Cu2O phase decreases with increasing oxygen content of the gas mixture. The photocatalytic properties of the prepared Cu2O nanopowder are evaluated by carrying out the decomposition reaction of methyl orange dye in an aqueous medium.