CuO Rapid Synthesis with Different Morphologies by the Microwave Hydrothermal Method

• Published in: Materials research (São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil) Vol. 21; no. 6; p. 1
• Main Authors: Quirino, Max Rocha, Lucena, Guilherme Leocárdio, Medeiros, Jackson Andson, Santos, Ieda Maria Garcia dos, Oliveira, Matheus José Cunha de
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sao Carlos Universidade Federal do Sao Carlos, Departamento de Engenharia de Materiais 01.01.2018; ABM, ABC, ABPol; Associação Brasileira de Metalurgia e Materiais (ABM); Associação Brasileira de Cerâmica (ABC); Associação Brasileira de Polímeros (ABPol)
• Subjects: Agglomerates; Agglomeration; Catalytic activity; copper oxide; Crystallites; Discoloration; ENGINEERING, CHEMICAL; Hydrothermal treatment; MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY; METALLURGY & METALLURGICAL ENGINEERING; microwave hydrothermal method; Morphology; Photocatalysis; photocatalytic; Scanning electron microscopy; Sodium hydroxide; Synthesis; X-ray diffraction; microwave hydrothermal method; copper oxide; photocatalytic
• ISSN: 1516-1439; 1980-5373; 1980-5373
• DOI: 10.1590/1980-5373-mr-2018-0227

CuO structures were synthesized by microwave hydrothermal treatment using two different mineralizing agents (NaOH and NH4 OH) and were evaluated as photocatalysts. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Brunauer-EmmettTeller (BET) surface area analysis. The XRD patterns indicated the formation of the monoclinic phase in both samples with 13.78 and 14.23 nm crystallite size. SEM analysis showed different agglomerates morphologies based on the mineralization agent employed. The CuO nanostructure synthesized with NH4 OH presented agglomerated like-plates which results in a spherical shape, whereas the material synthesized with NaOH presented an agglomerate of larger plates. Both samples showed photocatalytic activity against RNL azo dye. The quasi-spherical shape CuO material reached 93 % of the discoloration.