Hierarchical CuS Research Articles

Controlled synthesis of hierarchical CuS architectures by a recrystallization growth process in a microemulsion system

Nano- and micro-sized hierarchical copper monosulfide (CuS) architectures composed of nanoplates have been successfully synthesized via a recrystallization growth process in a microemulsion system. In our method, the spatial separation of two reactants and low-reaction temperature can decrease the rate of growth of the CuS nuclei, resulting in the formation of the poorly crystallized CuS aggregates in an oil-in-water (o/w) microemulsion. The hierarchical CuS nanostructures are formed easily from poorly crystallized CuS by a recrystallization growth process at a higher temperature. Furthermore, the flowerlike CuS architectures can be obtained by a kinetically controlled dissolution–recrystallization mechanism. In addition, the photocatalytic activity of the hierarchical CuS architectures has been evaluated by the degradation of methylene blue solution in the presence of hydrogen peroxide under natural light, showing that the as-prepared hierarchical CuS architectures exhibit high-photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue.

Synthesis, formation mechanism and photocatalytic property of nanoplate-based copper sulfide hierarchical hollow spheres

Nanoplate-based copper sulfide (CuS) hierarchical hollow spheres have been successfully synthesized using the spontaneous oil droplets as the templates in a two-phase system. In this approach, the poorly crystallized CuS hollow spheres with an average diameter of about 1μm can be obtained at a low temperature and then grow into the hierarchical CuS hollow spheres composed of nanoplates through a recrystallization growth process at a higher temperature. Furthermore, the growth process of the nanoplates of the hierarchical CuS hollow spheres can be controlled by changing the ripening time. In addition, the photocatalytic activity of the hierarchical CuS hollow spheres has been evaluated by the degradation of methylene blue solution in the presence of hydrogen peroxide under natural light, showing that the as-prepared hierarchical CuS hollow spheres exhibit high photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue (MB).

A Novel Tailoring Route for the Fabrication of Different Hierarchical CuS Superstructures

Abstract Different nanoscaled hierarchical CuS superstructures, such as tree-like superstructures, nanowires, and nanowebs, have been prepared by a novel “ion-tailoring” method with clear advantages over the traditional complex approaches for the production of 1D superstructured nanomaterials. Electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and optical spectroscopy were used to characterize the products. This novel designed strategy may be used for the preparation of other sulfide nanocrystalline superstructures.

Synthesis of hierarchical CuS flower-like submicrospheres via an ionic liquid-assisted route

A facile, ionic liquid-assisted route was developed to synthesize hierarchical CuS flower-like submicrospheres at 80°C for 24 h. The method was based on a reaction between CuCl2 and thioacetamide (TAA) in aqueous solution with using ionic liquid 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM]Cl) as an assisted agent. The chemical composition, morphology and size of CuS product were characterized by XRD, SEM and TEM. The result shows that the as-prepared CuS consists of flowery spheres with a diameter of 0·6 ∼ 1·0 μm, and these submicrospheres are, in fact, built by numerous nanoflakes with a thickness of 10 ∼ 20 nm. The optical property of CuS product was examined by UV-Vis. In general, we suggested an ecologically and environmentally friendly route for the syntheses of hierarchical metal chalcogenides structures in this paper.

Controlled synthesis of spherical CuS hierarchical structures

Spherical CuS hierarchical structures organized by nanoparticles were synthesized by the reaction of CuCl 2·2H 2O and sodium O-isopropyldithiocarbonate (xanthate, C 3H 7OCSSNa) in N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) at 70 °C for 12 h. The product was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM). The result shows that the hierarchical CuS spheres were of 300–500 nm and aggregated by numerous particles with an average diameter of about 10 nm. A possible mechanism for the formation of CuS hierarchical structures is proposed, and an optical study has also been carried out.

Ionic liquid-assisted synthesis of hierarchical CuS nanostructures at room temperature

At room temperature, hierarchical copper sulfide (CuS) nanoparticles were successfully fabricated through an ionic liquid-assisted route employing CuCl 2 and thioacetamide (TAA) as the starting materials. In the presence of ionic liquid 1- n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIM]BF 4), in situ formed Cu(I)-complex as the precursor could easily dissociate to the CuS species at so low temperature. The product was characterized by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that the hierarchical CuS nanoparticles were of 250–300 nm in size and well-constructed by numerous nanoflakes with a thickness less than 10 nm. In this paper, an ecologically and environmentally friendly preparation route for CuS nanostructures was proposed.