Controllable synthesis of Cu2O petalody octahedral microcrystals and multi-patterned evolution

Abstract

The fabrication of cuprous oxide (Cu(2)O) with various morphologies has attracted extensive interest due to its applications in solar energy conversion, electrode materials, sensors, and catalysts. Herein, we report a facile controllable route for Cu(2)O microcrystals with various architectures via a hydrothermal method without using templates or surfactants. Six types of Cu(2)O microcrystals including petalody octahedral, concave truncated octahedron, truncated octahedron, octahedron, sphere-like, and sphere are obtained accompanying with Cu precipitation or urchin-like CuO particles due to the modifying of pH values. The petalody octahedral pattern of Cu(2)O is for the first time found here under the condition of pH 7-8. Additionally, possible growth mechanism for multi-patterned Cu(2)O and compositional evolution is discussed via preferential growths induced by selective absorption of acrylic acid and decomposition of lactic acid in the present reaction system. These experimental results prove a versatile and facile strategy for Cu(2)O microcrystals with special and complex architectures, which may highlights their potential applications due to the improved surface activity, catalytic, or photoelectric performance.