Emergent methods to synthesize and characterize semiconductor CuO nanoparticles with various morphologies – an overview

Abstract

Nanotechnology can be defined as the science and engineering involved in the design, synthesis and application of materials and devices on the nanometer scale. It is not in itself a single emerging discipline, but rather a meeting of several traditional sciences such as chemistry, physics, materials science, biology and engineering to bring together the required expertise needed to develop these new technologies. The unique properties of nanoscale materials provide benefits in remediation, pollution prevention, and efficient use of resources; however, the greatest contribution to green chemistry is likely to be the new manufacturing strategies available through nanoscience. So, the present review mainly focuses on the synthesis of semiconductor CuO nanomaterials from different starting materials by adopting various routes such as vapor-solid, vapor-liquid-solid, solid-liquid, etc. to reveal the morphological features of the precursor.

Keywords:

• CuO
• Nanomaterials
• Nanorods
• Nanotubes
• Nanobelts
• Nanowires
• Synthesis
• Alcohothermal
• SEM
• TEM
• XRD

Acknowledgements

Author (SA) wishes to thank DST, New Delhi for the Fast Track Young Scientist award and The Director of the National Institute of Technology, Trichy, for providing funding from the TEQIP programme to create a new lab (Nanomaterials and Solar Energy Conversion).