Synthesis of quasi-1D cuprous oxide nanostructure and its structural characterizations

Abstract

A wealth of superfine polycrystalline cuprous oxide (Cu 2O) nanowires have been synthesized with hydrazine hydrated (N 2H 4·H 2O), act as the reducing agent, and Cu(OH) 2 nanowires, act as a soft template and surfactant, at room temperature. Two methods were employed for the synthesis of these nanowires, i.e. with and without capping agent (polyethylene glycol Mw 8000). Techniques of powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern, electron diffraction X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and UV–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy have been used to characterize the morphology, structure, crystallinity, purity, and composition of nanowires. The average diameters of Cu 2O nanowires, prepared with and without capping agent, were observed to be 8–10 and 12–15 nm and lengths of several microns, respectively. It is found that capping agent (PEG) confines the dimensions of synthesized nanowires. In addition, the observed optical band gap of products show blue-shift effect compared to the bulk Cu 2O ( E g=2.17 eV), which ascribe it as a promising material for the conversion between solar energy and electrical or chemical energy.