Preparation of Monodispersed Cuprous Oxide Nanoparticles Under Ultrasonic Radiation

Abstract

A green environmental friendly process for preparing monodispersed cuprous oxide nanoparticles is reported. In this process, cuprous oxide is prepared using Cu(OH)₄^2- as precursor and glucose as reducing agency in the presence of dispersant under ultrasonic radiation. Spherical, welldispersed Cu₂O nanoparticles were obtained with the average size of 200 nm or 1.5 μm, respectively, with or without cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as surfactants. In the process, the sonochemical method comparing to the other methods which have been used, is very fast and it does not need high temperature during the reaction. It is noticeable that the reducing agency is natural product and the reaction is nearly completed with less than 0.5 mg/L Cu²⁺ left in the waste water under ultrasonic radiation, up to the discharge standard of wastewater.