Hierarchical copper oxide microspheres prepared in an ordinary household microwave oven

Abstract

Hierarchical copper oxide (CuO) microspheres were prepared by a simple microwave-assisted preparation method in an ordinary household microwave oven under ambient pressure. The CuO microspheres were characterised by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermal gravimetric analysis. Characterisation results show that the hierarchical CuO microspheres are assembled by spine-like nanorods and have high Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area of 25.0 m2/g.