Rapid Sonochemical Synthesis and Characterisation of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles from Schweizer's Reagent

Author(s): Gerrard Eddy Jai Poinern, Huu Dang, Ravi Krishna Brundavanam, Derek Fawcett

The present work reports the results of a study that investigated a sonochemical approach to synthesis copper oxide nanostructures from tetraamminediaquacopper dihydroxide. (Schweizer's Reagent). Ultrasonic irradiation ranging from 0 to 400 W over time periods ranging from 5 min to 15 min were performed on Schweizer's reagent. UV-visible spectroscopy has shown that copper nanoparticles are initially formed but soon oxidize in the ultrasonically treated reagent. Formation of copper oxide nanostructures was indicated by the original blue colour of the reagent turning brown at particular power settings. XRD analysis confirmed the presence of both copper (I) oxide (Cu2O) and copper (II) oxide (CuO) at the end of the ultrasonic treatment. SEM microscopy revealed particles sizes ranged from 200 nm up to 1µm and were predominantly granular and agglomerated in nature.

Copper Oxide, Nanostructures, Sonochemical Synthesis, Ultrasounds

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