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

Publication date: Available online 17 May 2019Source: Physica E: Low-dimensional Systems and NanostructuresAuthor(s): Qi Guo, Yanqiong Li, Wen ZengAbstractCu2O 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 CuCl2 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 Cu2O 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.Graphical abstractIn this work, hollow and solid cuprous oxide microspheres were successfully synthesized by liquid phase reducing method and the gas sensing performance of the samples was investigated. In addition, we also explore the effect of the adding sequence of aqueous sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and CuCl2 on the resultant morphologies of Cu2O and propose the growth formation mechanism.

Source: Physica E: Low dimensional Systems and Nanostructures - May 19, 2019 Category: Nanotechnology Source Type: research