Synthesis of Cu₂O nanourchins from Cu nanosheets synthesised in hydrophilic bilayers of hyperswollen lamellar phase

ABSTRACT

Nanostructured materials have attracted attention due to their unique chemical and physical properties different from the bulk. Some nanostructures transform their shape through reactions like oxidation and reduction. Here, we report the Cu₂O nanourchin synthesis using spontaneous growth from Cu nanosheets (CuNSs). The CuNSs are synthesised inside the bilayers of the hyperswollen lamellar phase. The obtained CuNSs become Cu₂O after drying at 90°C. Atomic force microscopy indicates that the CuNSs are oxidised in the air in the heating process to give Cu₂O nanourchins.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Nanosheet
• nanourchin
• hyperswollen lamellar phase
• copper (I) oxide

Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by the Advanced Characterization Nanotechnology Platform, Nanotechnology Platform Program of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan, Grant Number JPMXP09A21OS0028 at the Research Center for Ultra-High Voltage Electron Microscopy (Nanotechnology Open Facilities) in Osaka University, and JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number JP22H04477 and JP22J10688.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the JSPS [JP22H04477,JP22J10688]; Japanese Ministry of Education Culture, Sports, Science and Technology [JPMXP09A21OS0028].