Synthesis of Cu2O microspheres with hollow and solid morphologies and their gas sensing properties

Abstract

Abstract Cu2 O microspheres with hollow and solid features were successfully prepared via a convenient liquid phase reducing method. Interestingly, we found that the discrepancy in morphology arose from a simply changing on the adding sequence of aqueous sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and CuCl 2 with other conditions unchanged. Based on experimental results, the feasible formation mechanisms of both morphologies were deduced, where the relative concentration of SDS and CuCl2 was a crucial factor that effect the resultant morphologies. In comparison with the solid microspheres, the hollow Cu2 O exhibited superior gas sensing performance. The significant performance might ascribe to its unique hollow structure, contributing to plenty of active sites existed on both the inner and outer surface and unrestricted gas diffusion in the hollow microspheres.