Controlled Synthesis of Nanostructured Copper Oxides Through an Elaborate Solution Route

Copper oxides (CuO) with hierarchical structures have been synthesized via a solution-based route with the assistance of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The size and morphology of obtained products could be rationally tuned through altering the molar ratio of starting materials. The composition of mixed solvent and the aging time were also found to influence the shape evolution of CuO particles. Based on the analyses of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy etc., a plausible mechanism was proposed for the formation of CuO hierarchical structures. UV-visible absorption study demonstrates their potential applications in optical electronic devices, and catalytic oxidation of formaldehyde shows their potential applications in catalytic degradation of volatile organic compounds.