One-step green synthesis of cuprous oxide crystals with truncated octahedra shapes via a high pressure flux approach

• Published in: Journal of solid state chemistry 2011-08, Vol.184 (8), p.2097-2102
• Main Authors: Li, Benxian, Wang, Xiaofeng, Xia, Dandan, Chu, Qingxin, Liu, Xiaoyang, Lu, Fengguo, Zhao, Xudong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS; CHALCOGENIDES; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; COPPER; COPPER COMPOUNDS; COPPER OXIDE; COPPER OXIDES; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; CRYSTAL GROWTH; CRYSTALS; CUPRIC OXIDE; CUPROUS OXIDE; ELEMENTS; Exact sciences and technology; FABRICATION; Flux; FLUXES; Green synthesis; HIGH PRESSURE; High-pressure and shock-wave effects in solids and liquids; HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS; HYDROXIDES; INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; Low temperature; Materials science; Mechanical and acoustical properties of condensed matter; METALS; Methods of crystal growth; physics of crystal growth; Microcrystals; MORPHOLOGY; OXIDES; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; Physics; POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS; POTASSIUM HYDROXIDES; PRESSURE RANGE; PRESSURE RANGE MEGA PA; PRESSURE RANGE MEGA PA 10-100; SHAPE; SODIUM COMPOUNDS; SODIUM HYDROXIDE; SODIUM HYDROXIDES; SYNTHESIS; TEMPERATURE RANGE; TEMPERATURE RANGE 0065-0273 K; Theory and models of crystal growth; physics of crystal growth, crystal morphology and orientation; TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS; TRANSITION ELEMENTS; Truncated octahedron
• ISSN: 0022-4596; 1095-726X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jssc.2011.05.049

Cuprous oxide (Cu 2O) was synthesized via reactions between cupric oxide (CuO) and copper metal (Cu) at a low temperature of 300 °C. This progress is green, environmentally friendly and energy efficient. Cu 2O crystals with truncated octahedra morphology were grown under high pressure using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) with a molar ratio of 1:1 as a flux. The growth mechanism of Cu 2O polyhedral microcrystals are proposed and discussed. The Cu 2O crystals with truncated octahedral shape were one-step synthesized in high yield via high pressure flux method for the first time, which is green and environmentally friendly. The mechanisms of synthesis and crystal growth were discussed in this paper. [Display omitted] ► Cuprous oxide was one-step green synthesized by high pressure flux method. ► The approach was based on the reverse dismutation reactions between cupric oxide and copper metal. ► This progress is green, environmentally friendly and energy efficient. ► The synthesized Cu2O crystals were of truncated octahedra morphology.